WASHINGTON, DC, August 6, 2021 — The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas applauds the Senate for its work on the bipartisan infrastructure package that includes various priorities of the recreational boating industry.
After weeks of negotiations between Senators and the White House, The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is making its way to a vote on the Senate Floor. Referred to as an infrastructure package, this large bill totals $550 billion in new spending and will support a variety of infrastructure priorities from our nation’s waterways and roads to investments in clean energy and electric vehicles. Due to its large scope, this bill contains a variety of provisions that will benefit the recreational marine industry, including the efficient transportation of boats and making coastal communities more resilient.
“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is a comprehensive piece of legislation that will only help bolster and grow our nations $170.3 billion recreational boating industry,” said Chad Tokowicz, Government Relations Manager for the MRAA. “Although the bill is in its final stages and is slated to be passed soon, we need your voice. Please encourage your Senator to support the bill.”
Action Alert: Please click here to tell your Member of Congress to support the recreational boating industry and invest in outdoor recreation infrastructure by supporting the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Of the $17 billion included for ports and waterways, MRAA and Boating United support the following measures:
- Roughly $10 billion to support US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) infrastructure priorities, which includes a dedicated amount for repairing damages to USACE projects caused by natural disasters, helping to provide updates for key recreational areas;
- $455 million annually for five years for the Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), which will allow significant improvements to port facilities on coasts, rivers, and the Great Lakes;
- $5 million annually for five years for the Marine Highways Program funds, which will work to expand the use of America’s navigable waters and expand marine highway service options; and
- $429 million for US Coast Guard infrastructure priorities, which includes funding for shore construction infrastructure and facility deficiency needs that the Coast Guard relies on to provide services and protect the public.
Furthermore, the comprehensive package will also reauthorize the $650 million Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, a user pay, user benefit program that is funded through excise taxes and import duties on fishing equipment and motorboat and small engine fuel. This program then funds conservation projects throughout the country such as boating access and fisheries projects. To learn more about this program please see MRAA’s past press release here.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.
