The U.S. House of Representatives gave ski areas a big boost on Monday, passing a bill that would help resorts create summer jobs. According to the Vail Daily, the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act would amend the ski-only rules that currently govern U.S. Forest Service Land.
The bill, H.R. 765, received unanimous support in the House and next goes to the Senate. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Denver) was its driving force in the House.
“At a time when our No. 1 priority in Congress must be creating jobs for Americans, I am proud to have led the bipartisan effort to pass a bill that will create stable, year-round jobs in the 13 states currently home to ski resorts on public land,” DeGette told the Vail Daily.
But don’t expect a free-for-all; the bill won’t allow tennis courts, water slides, swimming pools, golf courses and amusement parks on National Forest Service Land.
For more on the bill and its status, click here.
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Alex Kochon
Alex Kochon (alexkochon@gmail.com) is a former FasterSkier editor and roving reporter who never really lost touch with the nordic scene. A freelance writer, editor, and outdoor-loving mom of two, she lives in northeastern New York and enjoys adventuring in the Adirondacks. She shares her passion for sports and recreation as the co-founder of "Ride On! Mountain Bike Trail Guide" and a sales and content contributor at Curated.com. When she's not skiing or chasing her kids around, Alex assists authors as a production and marketing coordinator for iPub Global Connection.