Hassan, Shaheen Help Reintroduce Bipartisan SHRED Act to Keep Ski Fees Local, Support New Hampshire Recreation Management

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) helped reintroduce theSki Hill Resources for Economic Development (SHRED) Act, led by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Barrasso (R-WY). The bipartisan bill would fuel investment in outdoor recreation in mountain communities by enabling National Forests like the White Mountain National Forest to retain a portion of the annual fees paid by ski areas operating within their boundaries.
“During the winter, New Hampshire’s stunning White Mountains and impressive ski slopes attract Granite State residents and tourists alike – making it a key pillar of our outdoor recreation economy,”said Shaheen. “This bipartisan bill will reinvest ski fees to improve ski areas and support overall recreation in the White Mountain National Forest. I’ll continue supporting commonsense investments in our recreation economy to benefit local communities and preserve our landscapes for generations to come.”
“New Hampshire’s ski resorts are cornerstones of our winter tourism industry and our state’s economy,”said Hassan.“The SHRED Act is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that will help strengthen our local communities by ensuring that ski fees are invested in maintaining and improving the places that make New Hampshire a premier destination for winter sports. This legislation will benefit both our local communities and the millions of visitors who come to experience the Granite State’s natural beauty.”
In exchange for using some of America’s most stunning forestlands, the 124 ski areas operating on Forest Service lands across the country pay fees to the Forest Service that average over $40 million annually. TheSHRED Actwould establish a framework for local National Forests to retain a portion of ski fees to offset increased recreational use and support local ski permit and program administration. TheSHRED Actalso provides the Forest Service with flexibility to direct resources where they are needed the most.
Specifically, theSHRED Actwouldinvest in the Granite State by:
Shaheen and Hassan have long led efforts in Congress that support and invest in New Hampshire’s tourism and travel industries that fuel local economies across the state. Shaheen led her bipartisanOutdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Actinto law to require the federal government to measure the impact of the outdoor recreation on the economy. In November 2024,Shaheen applaudedthe release of anannual report showinga $1.2 trillion economic contribution by the outdoor recreation sector in 2023, including adding $3.9 billion to New Hampshire’s economy. In New Hampshire, outdoor recreation accounts for 3.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 32,000 people, which is a 2.9% increase in jobs.
Shaheen and Hassan led efforts to helpsecure full fundingandpermanent authorizationfor the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which has helped protect more than 2.5 million acres of land and supported tens of thousands of state and local outdoor recreation projects throughout the nation. In 2020, theSenators helped leadthe Great American Outdoors Act into law to permanently fund the LWCF and provide mandatory funding for deferred maintenance on public lands.
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