On May 13, the U.S. Coast Guard released its report on recreational boating statistics for 2013 and announced a new record low of 560 boating fatalities last year. The fatality rate per 100,000 registered boats was 4.7, down 13 percent form a reported 5.4 in 2012. “This is great news that confirms recreational boating is […]

Reacting to a recent boating accident in New York, Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY) introduced H.R. 4642, the Boat Occupancy and Teaching Act, May 20. There are no co-sponsors and no action is currently being considered. The bill has been referred to three House committees: Transportation, Ways and Means and Natural Resources. H.R. 4642 would require […]

On May 29, the House Committee on Natural Resources marked up H.R. 4742, the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act, with a vote of 24 (yes) to 17 (no). The bill was ordered for report to the full House of Representatives for a floor vote, which has not yet been scheduled. […]

Today, President Obama signed H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Research and Development Act, into law. The WRRDA conference report was originally presented to the President for signature June 3. President Obama had 10 days to sign or veto the act, and on Tuesday, June 10 he officially signed WRRDA into law. After months of negotiating, […]