Bennet, Barrasso Celebrate Bipartisan SHRED Act Advancing Out of Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, celebrated their Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development (SHRED) Act advancing out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Bennet and Barrasso introduced this bipartisan legislation in June to invest in outdoor recreation in mountain communities by enabling National Forests to retain a portion of the annual fees paid by ski areas operating within their boundaries. According to the latest estimates from the United States Forest Service, the legislation could bring up to $21,726,400 in retained ski area fees to Colorado National Forests that can be used to improve the ski area program and permitting, as well as overall National Forest recreation management.

The bill has nine additional bipartisan cosponsors in the Senate, including Colorado U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper. U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (D-N.H.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), and Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"I'm pleased that our SHRED Act to support mountain communities in Colorado and across the West passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today," said Bennet. "Our bipartisan bill would keep ski fees local to help our National Forests keep up with outdoor recreation demands. I look forward to working with Senator Barrasso and my colleagues to get this critical legislation over the finish line."

"Key Wyoming public lands priorities are moving forward," said Barrasso. "The SHRED Act will help make the Forest Service a better partner to Wyoming's ski communities. By creating a dedicated account for the Forest Service fees our ski resorts pay, they'll be able to use these funds to improve facilities, protect the forests, and support the economy."

"This will be a gamechanger for many of Colorado's mountain communities. The SHRED Act allows the people who use National Forest land the most to prioritize where the need is greatest," said Hickenlooper, a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

"Outdoor recreation and skiing are cornerstones of our New Hampshire economy and Granite State way of life," said Kuster. "As co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Ski and Snowboard Caucus, my Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development (SHRED) Act will steer more New Hampshire dollars back home by investing fees paid by our Granite State ski mountains into local forests to bolster our regional economy and create more year-round jobs. The SHRED Act will provide funding for expanded parking, trail maintenance, and increase visitor services, so everyone can enjoy the White Mountains."

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