Russ Fulcher

Letter to Speaker Johnson Urging to Fix Woody Biomass Definition - U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher

Position: The congressman urges Speaker Johnson to fix the definition of woody biomass, indicating concern about how biomass is currently defined in policy or legislation.

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Fulcher Signs Letter Urging Support for Timber Production in PNW - U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher

Position: Congressman Fulcher signed a letter expressing support for timber production in the Pacific Northwest.

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Fulcher on Announcement of Secure Rural Schools Payments, Helped Facilitate House Vote - U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher (Idaho-01) released the following statement after the U.S. Forest Service announced it will issue $248 million in Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payments for 2025 and $182 million in retroactive payments for 2024. These funds go to eligible states and counties with untaxed National Forest System lands. The announcement comes after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025 in December of last year, which was later signed into law. The bill reauthorized the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program through Fiscal Year 2026 and provided lapsed payments for 2024 and 2025, a measure Congressman Fulcher helped facilitate get on the House floor and advocated for with House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republican Leadership. “Federal programs like SRS are vital to Idaho’s rural communities, where a significant portion of land is owned by the federal government. However, this funding has grown increasingly difficult to garner support for in the U.S. Congress, as states without vast federal landholdings often view this program as a subsidy,” said Congressman Fulcher. “I am grateful to Speaker Johnson and House Republican Leadership for their collaborative efforts with my office to get legislation to provide payments through Fiscal Year 2026—in addition to lapsed payments for 2024 and 2025—on the House floor and passed. While I am very pleased to see these funds released, I will continue to advocate for a long-term solution in Congress.” Idaho counties will receive a total of $24 million in payments for Fiscal Year 2025 and $27 million for 2024.

Idaho Congressional Delegation, State Treasurer Announce Secure Rural Schools Payments - U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher

Boise, Idaho — U.S. Representatives Russ Fulcher and Mike Simpson, U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, and Idaho State Treasurer Julie Ellsworth announced Idaho counties will receive a total of $24 million in payments for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 under the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program. Under Idaho law, 30 percent of SRS funding goes to counties to help fund schools, and the remaining 70 percent is allocated for roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects. The U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management administer the funds. Payment levels are based on a formula including economic activity, timber harvest levels, and other considerations that vary from county to county. Idaho is set to receive the third-highest total payment in the U.S., behind Oregon and California. "Federal programs like SRS are vital to Idaho’s rural communities, where a high level of land is owned by the federal government.  However, this funding has grown increasingly difficult to garner support for in the U.S. Congress, as states without vast federal landholdings often view this program as a subsidy," said Fulcher.  "I’m pleased to see these funds released to our state and will continue to work towards a long-term solution that ensures Idahoans—not the federal government—are the sole determiners of Idaho’s future success and well-being." “Rural counties across Idaho depend on the Secure Rural Schools program,” said Simpson.  “I'm pleased to see these funds allocated to help Idaho schools, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects.  As a longtime supporter of the SRS program, I have been proud to advocate for critical funding alongside my Idaho colleagues, and we will continue to fight for a long-term solution.” “The federal government has a responsibility to counties home to federal lands in Idaho and across the country to help support essential public services like roads, emergency response and schools given these communities’ inability to collect property taxes,” said Crapo. “I continue working to secure a long-term, permanent solution so county governments can plan with certainty and no longer have to rely on year-to-year congressional approval.” “The federal government made a promise to rural communities that rely on SRS for schools, road maintenance, and other essential services,” said Risch. “Until we can bring historic timber revenue back to these areas, I will work with Congress to reauthorize this important program.” “As these Secure Rural Schools funds are distributed to Idaho counties, they will help support the schools, roads and bridges that rural communities rely on,” said Ellsworth.  “My office is proud to help ensure these dollars reach counties and further opportunities for our rural communities.” For more information about the administration of public funds by the State Treasurer’s Office (STO), visit the STO’s website HERE. Background on the SRS program:

Fulcher Signs Letter to Thune Urging SAVE America Act Passage - U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher

Position: Congressman Fulcher signed a letter to Senate Majority Leader Thune urging passage of the SAVE America Act.

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Fulcher Signs Letter to Block Federal Funding for Transgender Experiments on Animals in the FY27 Spending Bill - U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher

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Fulcher Introduces Bill to Strengthen Geographic Diversity of Metal Depositories - U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher (Idaho-01) released the following statement after introducing the System Integrity through Licensed Vault Expansion and Resilience (SILVER) Act, H.R. 8007. “Having metal depositories located in more than one region in the United States will provide Americans across the country with affordable access to metal exchanges and safeguard assets in the event of a national emergency or extreme weather event. I’m proud to introduce The SILVER Act, which requires the approval of at least two depositories in the Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones, strengthening system integrity and resiliency,” said Congressman Fulcher. Currently, the only precious metals depositories approved for deliveries on futures contracts are located within the Greater New York City Area. Since all metals storage facilities are located in such a limited and concentrated geographic region, there are substantial limits on market liquidity, increased security risks, and limitations on Americans living in the Western United States. The SILVER Act requires a derivatives clearing organization to select at least two depositories in the Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones for approval.

Fulcher Joins Colleagues Calling on Trump to Prioritize Opening Japanese Market Access to U.S. Potato Industry - U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher

Position: Congressman Fulcher and colleagues are calling on President Trump to prioritize securing market access for U.S. fresh potatoes in Japan during the Japanese Prime Minister's visit, citing the potential for $150 million in annual exports and economic relief for struggling potato growers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho) joined U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and House and Senate colleagues in asking President Trump to prioritize gaining market access for U.S. fresh potatoes during Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae’s upcoming visit to the United States. Ending Japan’s restrictions on U.S. fresh potatoes would result in an estimated $150 million a year in new American exports, benefitting farming communities in states across the country. “U.S. potato growers produce the best potatoes in the world. International trade and foreign export markets are critical to the U.S. potato industry,” wrote the legislators. “With low commodity prices and increased input costs this year, the potato sector, and specialty crops more broadly, are facing a major economic crisis. Japan represents a massive market with significant export opportunities for American potato growers,” continued the legislators. “Securing this long-delayed market access petition and unlocking the critical Japanese export market would make a meaningful difference for potato growers in our states and across the country.” In Idaho, the potato industry accounts for roughly a third of all U.S. production and supports more than 28,000 jobs. The letter was joined by Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Angus King (I-Maine), Steve Daines (R-Montana), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), Patty Murray (D-Washington), Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Gary Peters (D-Michigan), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) and Ted Budd (R-North Carolina) and Representatives Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Jeff Hurd (R-Colorado), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Michigan), Suzan DelBene (D-Washington), Bryan Steil (R-Wisconsin), Andrea Salinas (D-Oregon), Julie Fedorchak (R-North Dakota), Dan Newhouse (R-Washington), Jack Bergman (R-Michigan), Shri Thanedar (D-Michigan), Tony Wied (R-Wisconsin), Russ Fulcher (R-Idaho), Jeff Crank (R-Colorado), Glenn Grothman (R-Wisconsin), Marilyn Strickland (D-Washington), Cliff Bentz (R-Oregon), Gabe Evans (R-Colorado), Dan Meuser (R-Pennsylvania), Michael Baumgartner (R-Washington), Tom Tiffany (R-Wisconsin), Adrian Smith (R-Nebraska), Val Hoyle (D-Oregon), Brittany Pettersen (D-Colorado), Robert Bresnahan (R-Pennsylvania), Kim Schrier (D-Washington), Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisconsin), Rick Larsen (D-Washington), Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pennsylvania), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Washington), Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wisconsin), Michelle Fischbach (R-Minnesota), Joe Neguse (D-Colorado), John Moolenaar (R-Michigan), Jason Crow (D-Colorado), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Oregon), Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado), Adam Smith (D-Washington), Jared Golden (D-Maine), Hillary Scholten (D-Michigan), John James (R-Michigan), Brad Finstad (R-Minnesota), Janelle Bynum (D-Oregon), Bill Huizenga (R-Michigan) and Diana DeGette (D-Colorado).

Letter to President Trump to Prioritize Opening Japanese Market Access to U.S. Potato Industry - U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher

Position: Congressman Fulcher urges President Trump to prioritize opening Japanese market access for U.S. potato exports as part of trade negotiations.

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Fulcher Introduces Bill to Upgrade National Park Emergency System - U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Russ Fulcher (Idaho-01) introduced the Making National Parks Safer Act, H.R. 7031. Currently, the National Park Service (NPS) operates 41 911 call centers across the nation. A 2024 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report showed that the NPS had no nationwide plan to upgrade the call centers to Next Generation 911 (NG911) equipment, an Internet Protocol (IP)-based system that is significantly more secure than current operating standards. “When Americans trek out to explore our country’s great outdoors, they should be able to do so safely and with the knowledge that help is close at hand if an emergency arises,” said Congressman Fulcher. “The Making National Parks Safer Act delivers critical upgrades to the National Park Service’s call centers, fitting them with Next Generation 911 technology. This system allows dispatchers to receive not only voice calls, but also text messages, photos, and videos—giving responders greater situational awareness before engaging,” Fulcher added. “Whether a visitor has an encounter with a wild animal or obtains an injury on a remote hike, this bill helps ensure first responders have the tools to act swiftly and effectively.” Congressman Fulcher’s legislation would direct the Secretary of the Interior to access and implement NG911 systems.