Dear Secretary Vilsack and Director Zients,

We have been informed that the Forest Service has recently proclaimed that funds already distributed under the most recent extension of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) or payments based on revenue generated in fiscal year 2012 are subject to the fiscal year 2013 sequester, and the agency will be requesting repayment of$17.9 million in SRS and 25% fund payments that have already been disbursed to States. Due to the continued inability of the federal government to manage National Forest lands and provide local communities with a meaningful share of revenues from timber receipts, Congress has approved SRS payments to States to fund education, infrastructure, and emergency services. The SRS program was most recently extended through FY12 as part of the "Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21^st Century Act," that was signed into law by President Obama on July 6, 2012. The Department of Agriculture distributed $323 million to 41 states in accordance with that law in January of this year.

Read the entire letter HERE.