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changes to misguided National Monuments which are adversely impacting the counties of several public lands states. My primary focus this year has been to gain Congressional approval of a three year (FY 2024,2025,2026) extension of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) National Forest Payments program which originated in 1908 as a binding commitment when President Theodore Roosevelt signed the National Forest Act promising all public lands counties and schools 25o/o of the revenues generated from those National Forests. This covenant is still valid and keeps rural public lands counties financially flush so they can advocate for active National Forest management which, simply stated, means cutting trees at levels which prevent fires and protect the economic and environmental health of rural communities. To this end I organized two fly-ins to the capital city with county and education officials from 17 states. In August, I flew to Madison, Wisconsin in to meet with leaders of the Freedom Caucus to gain their support to endorse to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) passing SRS this month before the end of the FY 2025 fiscal year. I had recent meetings with White House Natural Resources Director Jason Becker who oversees Secretary of Agriculture Brook Rollins, and Deputy Secretar5r of Agriculture for Natural Resources, Kristen Sleeper who directs Forest Service Chief, Tom Shultz. Essentially, on behalf of all of you and the National Forest Counties and Schools Coa-lition, I am asking the Trump Administration to encourage the House Republican leaders to pass the 3-year SRS extension either as a stand-alone bill (Senator Mike Lee and Senator Ron Wyden prevailed upon Senate leaders to bring up and pass S. 356, the 3-year SRS extension unanimously in July), or to attach it as part of the must-pass Continuing Resolution (C.R.) in September, before the end of the 2025 fiscal year. Because SRS impacts your PILT payment as well, I will not back off of these efforts until the issue is resolved favorably for your county. In sum, it is up to Speaker Mike Johnson and the GOP House to pass SRS; to make payments retroactive to FY 2024 so public lands counties and school districts receive the payment which is owed them under the 1908 National Forest Act as amended by the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000. Like PILT, this is a binding federal commitment. I continue to be honored to represent you working full time in the National Capital City on your behalf and am grateful for your continued support. t er Forest County Group