GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. House has passed a bill that includes a one-year extension of federal subsidies for timber counties.
Oregon counties would get about $100 million under the extension of the now expired Secure Rural Schools program. The money was attached to a must-pass bill that would avert an impending shutdown of the federal helium reserve.
The House decision on Wednesday sends the measure back to the Senate, which has already backed the bill but must conform with technical changes made in the House.
Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio and Republican Rep. Greg Walden applauded the decision but both said Oregon's struggling timber counties need a longer-term solution.
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