Rob Bishop: “As has been mentioned by the gentleman, this is a bipartisan bill. I urge its adoption. It's a very good bill. I have no…”

“As has been mentioned by the gentleman, this is a bipartisan bill. I urge its adoption. It's a very good bill. I have no requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. DeGETTE. 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.…”