Congressman Simpson voted last night to provide needed funding to rural schools in Idaho. H.R. 2207, the Agricultural Disaster Assistance and Western States Emergency Unfinished Business Appropriations Act for 2007, includes $425 million to help counties with large amounts of federal land make up for lost tax revenue. The bill passed the House of Representatives with a final vote of 302-120.

"In many counties in Idaho, the federal government is the biggest land owner," Simpson said. "Because these counties can't collect taxes from the federal government, they face an uphill battle to find adequate funding for education and other critical programs. The funding included in this bill will meet an important need in these areas."

The bill also reauthorizes the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act for one year. This Act provides an alternative source of education funding for counties with a high percentage of national forests or federal land.

"Many rural counties and schools in Idaho depend on the county payments provided through the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act," Simpson said. "Reauthorization of this program is critical, and this one-year fix gives Congress time to find a long-term solution to this problem."

H.R. 2207 also includes important emergency assistance to farmers and funding for wildfire suppression.