Washington, D.C. – Today Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas), a leader in past congressional efforts to extend funding for Texas rural schools and counties, blasted Democrat House leaders for playing political games that will prevent sending the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, otherwise known as County Timber Payments, to the President for his signature.

“These timber payments are absolutely critical to East Texas counties, schools and emergency services districts. We need to extend the bill now before our communities lay off workers or face major tax increases,” said Brady, who argued on the House floor that rejecting traditional bi-partisan support for the bill effectively kills the legislation in the Senate.

“We are playing games with our rural schools and counties because some political genius thinks it is clever to try to score political points rather than solve this critical problem. It’s a shame.”

The controversial bill offered by House Democratic cuts timber payments for Texas schools in favor of higher payments to states in the northwest. It also jettisons the important Payment in Lieu of Taxes provisions that helps Texas counties and tries to unconstitutionally abrogate federal lease contracts with energy companies, many of them Texas companies, exploring for oil and gas in the Gulf Coast.

Brady added, “Luckily there is an alternative bill coming to the floor soon that will address the issue logically by opening up our domestic energy capabilities and using the royalties from those contracts to support our rural schools.”

Click Here to Watch Congressman Brady Defend Rural Schools