AK HJR29

Congress enacted the National Forest Receipts Program in 1908, requiring 25 percent of annual national forest income be shared with states for education and roads in affected communities.

The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 temporarily stabilized forest revenue payments to communities after 1986 management changes severely reduced forest product harvesting and revenue.

The act expired on September 3, 2015, and has only received temporary extensions for federal fiscal years 2017 and 2018, without permanent reauthorization.

Alaska's National Forest Service controls approximately 22,000,000 acres, with many rural communities in the Tongass and Chugach National Forests largely dependent on national forest revenue and lacking sufficient privately owned land for economic development.

The legislature requests Congress pass long-term reauthorization legislation (specifically H.R. 2340 or S. 1027) to prevent devastating effects on forest communities' ability to fund education and roads.