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Push to The Latest: No

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., May 17, 2018—In its most recent edition of “Capital Watch,” the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) said the list of co-sponsors in the House and Senate for the Ski FeeHN SkiFeeretentionAct 51718 Retention Act of 2018 is growing, thanks in part to efforts by ski areas that operate on public lands and state associations reaching out to their respective federal lawmakers—but the more the merrier.



To help the bill pass, NSAA is urging resorts and associations to “keep the pressure on” by following up with lawmakers and encouraging the representatives to co-sponsor the bill. NSAA has posted sample co-sponsor letters on its website along with a summary of the bill.

The Ski Fee Retention Act of 2018 would earmark a major portion of U.S. Forest Service permit fees, roughly $22 million to $24 million of the roughly $37 million resorts on public lands pay in permit fees, for improving ski area permit administration, processing of ski area proposals, and addressing any backlogs in permit administration or processing. The fees can also be used for interpretation, visitor services and support of USFS Avalanche Information/Education.

The lead sponsors on this proposed federal legislation to locally retain ski area permit fees are Rep. Tipton (R-CO) and Rep. Kuster (D-NH) in the House and Senators Gardner (R-CO), Bennet (D-CO) and Wyden (D-OR). In the House, there are 18 additional cosponsors already: Reps. LaMalfa (CA), Love (UT), Welch (VT), Cook (CA), Lamborn (CO), Sensenbrenner (WI), Simpson (ID), Amodei (NV), Cheney (WY), McClintock (CA), DelBene (WA), Nolan (MN), O’Halleran (AZ), Stewart (UT), Cartwright (PA), Curtis (UT), Gosar (AZ), and Beutler (WA). In the Senate, Senators Heller (NV), Hassan (NH), Enzi (WY) and Crapo (ID) have been added as co-sponsors.

The contacts for co-sponsorship of the bill in the House are Liz Payne in Rep. Tipton’s office (Liz.PayneRitonia@mail.house.gov) and Will Pisano in Rep. Kuster’s office (Will.Pisano@mail.house.gov). The contacts for co-sponsorship of the bill in the Senate are Dustin Sherer in Senator Gardner’s office (Dustin_Sherer@gardner.senate.gov) and Pat Donovan in Senator Bennet’s office (Patrick_Donovan@bennet.senate.gov).

Get updates on co-sponsors and bill progress by visiting Thomas.gov, entering the bill numbers (S. 2501/HR 5171), and signing up for future alerts via email.