• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- South Dakota's two U.S. senators say they are working with colleagues from other states to include provisions in a defense bill that will help school districts affected by federal property.
• School districts receive direct federal payments called impact aid to compensate for the presence of military bases, Indian reservations, national grasslands or other federal facilities.
• Sen. Tim Johnson and Sen. John Thune say the version of the defense bill passed by a Senate committee includes provisions that would simplify the calcula

tion of payments so school districts would receive impact aid payments sooner.
• The full Senate is expected to consider the defense authorization bill later.
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