Bennet Announces Outdoor Industry Association, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable's Support for SHRED Act

Press Release

Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet announced the Outdoor Industry Association and the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable's support for his Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development (SHRED) Act. Bennet's bipartisan legislation will 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.

"The partnership between ski areas, the Forest Service, and mountain communities is a vital component of Colorado's outdoor recreation industry, creating jobs and boosting local economies," said Bennet. "But as National Forests struggle with inadequate funding to meet demands, we need to pass the SHRED Act to keep ski fees local and help our National Forests keep up with the surge in visitation and outdoor recreation. I'm grateful to have the Outdoor Industry Association and the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable's support as we work to get this done for mountain communities."

Bennet and U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, introduced the SHRED Act in June. Last month, Bennet testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in support of the SHRED Act. Earlier this year Bennet released data from the United States Forest Service indicating that the SHRED Act, if passed, would provide around $17 million annually for National Forests in Colorado to improve the ski program, permitting, and 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.

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