North State Congressman Doug LaMalfa helps secure funding for rural schools and communities nationwide
The Secure Rural Schools Act secures funding for rural communities. The payments, which had expired in fiscal year 2023, provide funding for schools, roads, public safety and fire prevention in rural areas.
Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a Republican who represents Shasta and much of the North State, helped lead the passage of a bill in Congress this week aimed at restoring a program that helps fund rural schools and communities.
The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 resurrects Secure Rural Schools payments, which expired in fiscal year 2023. Until that year, the payments had been providing funding in rural communities for schools, roads, public safety, fire prevention and more since 2000. The legislation will bring more than $40 million to California if signed by President Donald Trump.
“When the program lapsed, rural schools and counties were cut short of the funding they rely on to provide basic services,” LaMalfa said in a press release. “This bill restores that funding and keeps future payments on schedule.”
A few years after the Forest Service was established in the early 1900s, Congress enacted a measure that distributed a portion of Forest Service funds generated through activities such as timber production to rural counties that have large areas of untaxable federal land. By 2000, due to Forest Service revenues being in decline for decades, Congress passed the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act to help stabilize funds going to rural communities.
The funding has been in place almost every year since then. When it expired in fiscal year 2023, school officials and politicians, including LaMalfa, adamantly pushed for the bill in hopes of bringing funding back. Beginning this year, LaMalfa badgered Speaker Mike Johnson for months until the bill was placed on the House calendar for a vote. Earlier this week the congressman successfully moved to fast-track the bill to get it on Trump’s desk without any amendments.
In a press release about the vote, LaMalfa attributed the drop in Forest Service revenues — specifically those caused by reduced timber sales — to “restrictive environmental regulations and a lack of real forest management,” adding that he’s working to reverse that trend in Congress.
He noted that when the funding program expired in 2023, counties that relied on the funding — which includes those across the North State — saw an 80% loss compared to what they typically received, citing data from the National Association of Counties. He said California received $33.7 million in funding in 2024, and District 1, which currently includes Shasta County, had received $12.6 million, “so the lapse hits hard.”
The last time counties received a Secure Rural Schools payment was in March of this year. The bill will make up for missed payments in fiscal year 2024 and secure funding for 2025 and 2026. The first checks are expected to be received 45 days after the bill is signed by Trump.
“That stability matters, and without it many schools could be forced to lay off teachers, or face closure,” LaMalfa said. “With SRS payments set to be restored, they can keep doing the work people count on.”
The bill passed in the House with overwhelming bipartisan support, only five representatives voted against it with 399 voting in favor.
The passage of this bill comes as rural communities, which are already disproportionately low-income compared to suburban and urban areas, face federal cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, housing and education, areas that heavily impact millions of Americans’ everyday lives.
Do you have information or a correction to share? Email us: editor@shastascout.org.
Comments (8)
Leave a comment
Related Articles
Shasta election official Clint Curtis uses board presentation to praise his own leadership, critique predecessors
The county board voted unanimously not to act on requests included in Curtis’ presentation.
Recent flooding closed Cal’s Books. This group of young people is working to bring it back
In December, after Cal’s Books was flooded with two feet of water — and thousands of books were damaged — its owner decided to close the store permanently. Now a team of 20-year-olds has a plan to save the beloved store.
Board majority faces off against Supervisor Plummer on liaison positions, supervisor raises
During the board’s first meeting of 2026, Supervisor Matt Plummer was removed from a number of pivotal liaison positions.
The public school “system” needs to be scaled back, let a lone their funding. Mom and dad need to take care, not the system. Public school needs to be academics, not fluff.
It’s funny how the thought of actually working to retain his seat brings out the press releases. For years this man has been a lump, while double dipping from the government.
I was just thinking that! I’ve seen more posts on social media from his office in the last 2 months than I recall seeing in the last 2 years! He’s freaking out big time that his gravy train has run out of track.
“Wow! $40 million!? Guess it’s better than a poke in the eye!” They said after being poked in the eye repeatedly by LaMalfa and the current administration. Of course it all hinges on Swiss cheese brain pervy-grampy Trump signing it and not changing his mind at the last minute. God help us if LaMalfa didn’t use the Lord’s font on the bill (Times New Roman, ironically.)
Kudos to everyone involved. And thanks to Congress for appreciating how essential it is to rural areas.
Nice story, Madison, but LaMalfa has caused far more harm to education than he has helped. Here’s the big picture: The Center for American Progress Action, which specifically analyzed votes in the House of Representatives, reports that Rep. LaMalfa, who supported Trump’s attempted Jan 06 insurrection, has voted with the Trump administration 100% of the time. We all know LaMalfa was a strong supporter of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill (BBB). The BBB cut $28.4 billion in federal Medicaid funding to California, which our schools rely on for health services, and $5.4 billion in SNAP funding that California schools depend on for meal programs and basic student food security. And if LaMalfa’s idol (Trump) follows through on plans to eliminate the Department of Education, California could lose an additional $28 billion in K-12 funding and $3 billion for higher education. Shasta County schools alone will lose millions more in direct financing outside of the cuts listed above. LaMalfa’s MAGA supporters are damaging not only the education of America’s youth but also the systems that sustain what’s left of American democracy. Personally, I’m glad this Trump kiss — will no longer represent Shasta County!
Happy that the bill takes welfare out of the schools. Miss me with food security as part of the school system. The focus needs to shift back to education not another movement towards socialism. Bye Christian.
It’s more difficult to teach a kid when they’re hungry.
Also, they’re at school for, what, 8 hours a day? Where else would they eat if not at a school?
Kids learn more when they’re not hungry, and it benefits them, their education, and society too.
Taking food away from kids is simplistic and not very well thought out. It hurts the kids, and doesn’t affect you one way or another.
Putting compassion aside, logically it is better to feed them than the other alternatives.