Labrador Meets with County Commissioners to Discuss Secure Rural Schools Program and Future of Idaho's Public Forests
Press Release
Idaho First District Congressman Raúl R. Labrador attended the Idaho Association of Counties annual conference on Monday and visited with over 100 elected county officials to discuss the federal Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program and ideas for moving toward a permanent solution. SRS, also known as the Craig-Wyden legislation, will expire soon and needs to be reauthorized.
Congressman Labrador and the county commissioners from throughout Idaho were unanimous in their desire to find a solution that would increase the revenue stream from our federal forests - a solution which would create jobs, generate tax receipts for the counties and address forest health. At present, Idaho counties are compensated for lost revenues due to inadequate timber harvests through the Secure Rural Schools program, but continued funding is in doubt in the current economic crisis.
"Idaho's traditional rural timber communities have been operating in an environment of uncertainty for decades. Many public lands in Idaho and other states have been inaccessible due to federal policies and tedious litigation. We must find a long-term solution to open up these lands and remove the uncertainty these communities are facing," said Labrador.
"The unintended consequences of what are thought to be good environmental policies are now clear: diseased forests on a colossal scale in immediate danger of catastrophic wildfire, chronic joblessness due to the closure of previously viable timber mills, and missed opportunities in the encouragement of alternative fuel development," Labrador continued.
Labrador concluded, "I look forward to working with all the stakeholders in our public lands to find a creative long term solution to this problem."
Dan Chadwick, Executive Director of the Idaho Association of Counties commented, "It is encouraging to the IAC and its members that Rep. Labrador has made a sustained effort to address this huge concern to the citizens of Idaho's rural counties, be they in his district or otherwise. He has engaged this issue and brought the resources of his offices to bear in searching for a solution to this complex challenge."
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