Rural schools in Southwest Washington are heartened by news that a bill restoring critical federal funding is headed to President Donald Trump’s desk.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a bill to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools program after a nearly two-year lapse that forced schools across the United States, including one in rural Skamania County, to make significant budget cuts.

“This is great news. We’re excited,” said Ingrid Colvard, the superintendent of the Stevenson-Carson School District. “It’s had bipartisan support all along, so we really did think if it was going to get on the floor for a vote that it would pass. Once we saw that the vote was on the calendar, we were feeling pretty hopeful.”

The House voted 399-5 to reauthorize the Secure Rural School

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