Ski Area Recreational Oppurtunity Enhancement Act of 2011

Floor Speech

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to bring this bill to the floor today. In my home state of Colorado, outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, and hiking are part of our everyday lives. These activities often occur in our fantastic ski areas--many of which are located on public lands.

The Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2011 clarifies the authority of the Forest Service to permit appropriate summer or year-round activities for ski areas. My bill will expand access to outdoor recreation, providing more opportunities for families to spend time outdoors. In the 2010/2011 ski season, there were over 60 million skier/snowboarder visits to American ski areas with nearly 21 million visits in the Rocky Mountain region. Providing summer recreation opportunities at already developed ski areas means winter guests will be more likely to return to their favorite spots at other times of the year. It will also provide substantial benefits to our local economies, and help create stable, year-round jobs in the thirteen states that are currently home to ski resorts on public land. The Outdoor Industry Association estimates active outdoor recreation, including activities at ski areas, contributes $730 billion to the U.S. economy annually.

Furthermore, the act makes a commonsense change to the Ski Area Permit Act by expanding permitted activities to include snow sports such as snowboarding. Snowboarding now accounts for roughly 1/3 of all ski area visits, and the law should reflect the reality of current winter activities.

I am proud to bring this bill to the floor today with broad bi-partisan support. We have worked closely with the Forest Service to develop a piece of legislation that is amenable to all affected parties, and I urge my colleagues to support this sensible piece of legislation.

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