WASHINGTON — A proposal that would allow ski areas to potentially expand activities to biking, zip lines and rope courses — legislation that would undoubtedly bring jobs to Colorado’s mountain towns — passed the U.S. Senate late Tuesday.

Democratic Sen. Mark Udall, who has been agitating to get the legislation passed for three years, has spent this month knocking on doors all over Capitol Hill and threatening to call individuals to the Senate floor if they held the noncontroversial bill any longer.

The Obama administration backs the bill, so it will likely be signed into law “as soon as possible,” according to Udall’s office.

The measure passed unanimously in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month — a rare thing in this climate. It passed once before in 2010 too. The problem has always been the Senate.

“Everyone talks about regulations we ought to lift. This is a way to move this economy, not just in Colorado,” Udall said. “I hope this is a positive sign that we can continue to work together on behalf of Coloradans — and all Americans — on common-sense legislation that will create jobs and strengthen our economy.”

The proposed law would allow ski areas to apply to use national-forest land for activities in the spring, summer and fall. Though some areas already boast summertime activities on nearby private land, this bill would allow areas to apply to build whole summer activity parks on public land with National Forest Service approval.

Ski areas were hesitant Tuesday to talk about what they would actually do if the bill passed, since they’ve been left at the so-called Senate altar before.

“The more we’re able to offer year-round opportunities, the more we’re able to offer those jobs and it’s better for Colorado,” said Melanie Mills, president of Colorado Ski Country. “It’s not controversial. It’s the kind of issue that can get caught up in the procedural snafus you see in Congress.”

That was exactly what is making Udall so mad.

He holds up the summertime recreation bill as an example of a dysfunctional logjam that didn’t need to exist, “if only to raise our approval ratings from the steady 12 percent they are at right now,” he said, jokingly referring to latest polls showing tanking congressional approval ratings.

David Roth at Copper Mountain Ski Resort said everyone is waiting to see what happens.

“I think this would only help to really build our summer business. We’re really excited to add things to the mountain . . . zip lines, lots of things,” he said. “So many people don’t understand how beautiful it is here in the summertime. It’s untapped.”

Allison Sherry: 202-662-8907 or asherry@denverpost.com