Angie Craig: “S. 1608, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 1999, solves a severe crisis in America's…”

“S. 1608, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 1999, solves a severe crisis in America's rural, forest counties driven by the precipitous decline in federal timber receipts over the last decade. The bill provides vital payments to schools and counties, while providing option to direct a portion of the payments to the development of local projects to address the needs of our families and forests. S. 1608 provides equity and increased educational opportunities for rural school children. States that are dominated by federally owned lands are facing a dual economic and educational crisis. Our nation contains almost 800 forest counties; 2,000 forest school districts; 600,000 rural families, and more than 4 million school children who depend upon rural public schools for their education. These children deserve the same educational opportunities as their counterparts in urban areas. Mosr urban areas across America witnessed unprecedented prosperity throughout the 1990s. However, in our rural forest counties, the decade has been a one-way slide toward poverty, unemployment, and a lower standard of living for communities, families and children. And it is our children who have borne the brunt of the harm.…”