Timber Payments to Oregon Counties Will Be Extended

Darlene Hooley and Peter DeFazio have secured a commitment from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to extend the county timber payments in this year’s Emergency Supplemental funding bill

Polk County was one of the many rural communities that would have suffered without these vital funds. Photo by: Bonnie King

(SALEM) - Last year, the Republican Congressional leadership failed to reauthorize the law that provided vital federal funding to many of Oregon’s rural counties.

The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, which Congress approved in 2000 to offset the loss of revenue to counties and schools resulting from severely reduced timber sales, expired in September 2006.

Because the law was not reauthorized, counties received their last checks in December, and as a result many rural counties throughout the state were forced to consider shutting down or seriously scaling back many vital local services such as schools, roads, libraries and police.

Friday, Congresswoman Darlene Hooley announced, "I’m pleased to report that I worked with Congressman Peter DeFazio and our Oregon colleagues to secure a commitment from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to extend the county timber payments in this year’s Emergency Supplemental funding bill.

"This federal money will help avert disaster for county police departments, schools, libraries, and jails across Oregon. Four-thousand four-hundred schools in 42 states have benefited from this money. Last year alone, the federal government provided $220 million in payments to rural counties in Oregon.

"There is still more work to do to ensure that our rural counties are protected. I’ll continue working with my colleagues in the House to approve the Emergency Supplemental bill; our Oregon Senators will also work ensure the Senate supports the extension as well.

"Please know that protecting this funding for Oregon’s rural communities is one of my top priorities, and I’ll continue my work on this issue in Congress."