Following McCaskill's Advocacy, Rural School Resources Renewed by Senate

Press Release

The U.S. Senate this week approved resources for rural schools that U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill has long supported, as part of its approval of a larger package of legislation aimed at permanently fixing the Medicare payment system for physicians and renewing the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Last month, McCaskill announced her support and cosponsorship of the Secure Rural Schools and Payment in Lieu of Taxes Repair Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at renewing the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act which expired September 30, 2014.

"Making sure we keep public education alive and well in Missouri's small towns and rural communities is something I'll never stop fighting for," McCaskill said. "These institutions play a critical role in knitting together local communities and educating our kids and grandkids, and we've got to ensure we're addressing the unique challenges they face--so I'm glad we've finally been able to get this legislation across the finish line."

The Secure Rural Schools and Payment in Lieu of Taxes Repair Act provides needed resources to fund roads, law enforcement, and schools in areas adjacent to National Forests, helping provide more funding certainty to offset dwindling revenue from timber harvesting as well as funding shortfalls due to the tax exempt status of federal lands.

As a result of the legislation's expiration, more than 700 counties across the country--including 29 in Missouri-- would have faced a dramatic 83 percent decrease in timber payments.

Source