Think Out Loud

Rep. Marie Glusenkamp Perez on bill passed to again fund Secure Rural Schools program

By Rolando Hernandez (OPB)
Dec. 10, 2025 5:24 p.m.

Broadcast: Wednesday, Dec. 10

The Secure Rural Schools act has provided crucial federal funding for rural schools and counties for 25 years. But for the past two years, funding has lapsed as efforts to renew the act failed and House Republicans omitted the program’s funding from federal spending in July. Now, that funding could be reinstated.

On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, which was approved by the Senate earlier this year. The bill now heads to the president to be signed and made into law. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat representing southwest Washington, co-lead the push for this bill. She joins us to share more.

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