Crapo Supports County Payments Funding

Washington, DC - Idaho Senator Mike Crapo supported the Senate passage of a provision today that includes $400 million to continue county payments for another year. In April, Crapo, a long-time advocate for the county payments program, joined a bipartisan group of senators, who sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee seeking the inclusion of an extension and funding for the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act of 2000 in the Fiscal Year 2008 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act.

As a member of the Senate Budget Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Rural Revitalization, Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee, Crapo worked to include provisions for county payments in the overall budget blueprint for Fiscal Year 2009. In addition, he worked with other Members of Congress to add the county funding in the Fiscal Year 2007 Supplemental Appropriations Bill.

"This important funding will provide a bridge to ensure the continued operation of school services in rural communities throughout Idaho and the country while work continues on a longer-term extension," said Crapo. "We simply can't afford to lose these vital jobs and services."