**The SHRED Act would reallocate undedicated funds collected from ski area permit fees to improve land management and visitor services in local National Forests**

Washington, D.C. — Today, Reps. Annie Kuster (D-NH) and John Curtis (R-UT), co-chairs of the House Ski and Snowboard Caucus, along with Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-CA), applauded the passage of the Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development (SHRED) Act through the Natural Resources Committee. This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Kuster, will support ski areas across the country that are operating on National Forest System lands and bring money back to local forests. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Barrasso (R-WY).

“I’m thrilled to see my legislation to steer more New Hampshire dollars back to Granite State ski mountains advance to the House Floor for final passage,” said Rep. Kuster (D-NH). “Outdoor recreation and skiing are cornerstones of New Hampshire’s economy and the Granite State way of life. As co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Ski and Snowboard Caucus, I’m proud to lead my Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development (SHRED) Act to invest in our local forests and communities to help create more year-round jobs and bolster our regional economies for generations to come.”

“Every year, thousands of people from around the world come to Utah for its amazing snow and winter sports facilities,” said Rep. Curtis (R-UT). “The SHRED Act ensures collected fees are appropriated to maintain and improve the lands that locals and tourists both love to visit. I am proud that this legislation is moving forward with the support of so many of my colleagues and I look forward to this bill moving to consideration on the Floor.”

“In Colorado, the ski industry is vital to outdoor recreation, job creation, and the economic revitalization of our mountain communities. This bill will provide funding that prioritizes our mountain communities and create vital improvements for parks and ski areas,” said Rep. Neguse (D-CO). “I was proud to help shepherd the bill through the Public Lands Subcommittee, and am excited to see my colleagues join together to get this done for Coloradans and for people across the country.”

“Outdoor recreation boosts tourism and fuels the economies of forested towns, it should be common sense that rental charges for ski area permits on Forest Service land should go towards properly managing the land instead of into a bureaucratic black hole in D.C.,” said Rep. LaMalfa (R-CA). “This bill is the solution we need to keep federal lands available and well maintained for recreation and enjoyment by the American people.”

Specifically, the SHRED Act would:

• Keep Ski Fees Local: By establishing a Ski Area Fee Retention Account to retain a portion of the fees that ski areas pay to the Forest Service. For National Forests that receive less than $15 million in ski fees annually, 75% of the fees are retained. For forests that receive more than $15 million in ski fees annually, 60% of the ski fees would be retained. The retained funds are available for authorized uses at the local National Forest.
• Support Winter Recreation: In each National Forest, 75% of the retained funds are directly available to support Forest Service Ski Area Program and permitting needs, process proposals for improvement projects, train staff, and prepare for wildfire. Any excess funds can be directed to other National Forests that host ski areas for the same uses. After all of the winter recreation uses have been addressed across the country, excess funds are carried over to the pot of funding that supports broad recreation needs.
• Address Broad Recreation Needs: In each National Forest, 25% of the retained funds are available to support a broad set of local recreation management and community needs, including special use permit administration, visitor services, trailhead improvements, facility maintenance, and affordable workforce housing. This set-aside would dramatically increase some Forest Service units’ budgets to meet the growing visitation and demand for outdoor recreation.

Currently, fees related to the permitting of ski areas on U.S. Forest Service land are given to the Treasury Department, where the funds are not dedicated for any specific purpose. The Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development (SHRED) Act seeks to change this system, and instead direct a portion of the fees to the National Forest System, where they will be used for local infrastructure improvements, avalanche forecasting and safety, and improved visitor services. The legislation also directs money to improve the ski area permitting process, helping ski areas facilitate investment in rural mountain communities.

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