Representatives from fifteen marine trades associations met under the Advisory Council of Marine Associations (ACMA) at the Marine Dealer Conference and Expo (MDCE) to review legislative and regulatory activity at the states and federal government. ACMA serves as the legislative committee of the MRAA Board and prepares resolutions which are presented to the MRAA Board for approval. These resolutions serve as a guide for MRAA positions and legislative strategy and priorities for the upcoming year.
Highlights of the 2013 federal legislative year that were discussed include ethanol, efforts to reduce red tape and regulation, dredging, tax reform, and EPA activity on copper bottom paint.
The state marine trades associations expressed their activities on the longshore insurance issue, impacts of bridge schedules on boating, tow boat issues, specific concerns about dredging and the need for supplemental funding, OAHA rules over marinas and boat yards, increased enforcement of the EPA over bottom washing, problems with abandoned boats, sales tax exemption for boat trade-ins, problems with the spreading of zebra mussels and Asian carp, effects of hurricane Sandy on the boating industry, and repeal of a luxury tax on boats.
ACMA passed six resolutions that will be presented to the MRAA Board for review and approval.
1.) Take action to protect the personal home mortgage interest deduction as applied to vessel ownership.
2.) Take action to support repeal of the renewable fuel program to reduce the impact of ethanol or eliminate it completely.
3.) Take action to strongly oppose mandatory adult PFD wear by the Coast Guard and leave that decision to individual states.
4.) Take action to investigate the possibility of funding for dredging of recreational boating harbors that would be provided from the Harbor Trust Fund.
5.) Take action to advocate for the downsizing of the federal government while increasing competition through privatization of government services.
6.) Take action to be an advocate and supporter of a revision to Moss-Magnuson fishing legislation during it re-authorization calling for more time and attitude to the US Fish and Wildlife Service to rebuild over-fished stocks using reliable scientific research and data.
Nicki Polan, Executive Director of the Michigan Boating Industries Association was elected chair of ACMA for 2014.
