Category: Advocacy

Jeff Strong, MRAA Board Chair, Testifies on Capitol Hill

• Testimony Highlights Benefits of MAPOceans Act and H.R. 8704 for Marine Retailers, Emphasizes Concerns Over Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule WASHINGTON, D.C, June 27, 2024 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announces that Jeff Strong, MRAA Board Chair and President of Strong’s Marine, testified before Congress on Capitol Hill regarding the MAPOceans […]

BoatUS Foundation Opens Grant Program for $7.5M Effort to Remove Abandoned and Derelict Vessels (ADVs) from Nation’s Waterways

• From June 10-August 12, organizations are invited to apply for grant funding to clean up their local waterways WHAT:In a nationwide effort to remove abandoned and neglected boats from our nation’s waterways, the Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS) Foundation is seeking qualified, diverse and experienced organizations to submit projects for funding. […]

MRAA Unveils New Legislative Tracker Made Possible by Diamond Ambassador Members

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 17, 2024 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas unveils a new legislative tracker, made possible by the support of MRAA’s Diamond Ambassadors. This innovative tool highlights legislation the MRAA is tracking and advocating for or against on behalf of the marine industry. This new addition to the website provides MRAA […]

2023 United States Coast Guard Recreational Boating Statistics Report: A Comprehensive Overview

By Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager On Friday, May 24, 2024, the United States Coast Guard released its annual Recreational Boating Statistics report for 2023, marking the 65th edition of this comprehensive analysis. This report is a vital resource for understanding the current state of recreational boating in the United States, providing detailed insights […]

Dealer Concerns Highlighted at Small Business Legislative Council Fly-In

WASHINGTON, D.C., MAY 28, 2024 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Government Relations Team recently participated in the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC) fly-in in Washington to discuss small business issues impacting recreational boat dealers and potential regulatory hurdles in the future. Government Relations Director Mike Sayre and Government Relations Manager Chad Tokowicz […]

MRAA, Association of Marina Industries Meet with White House, Request NMFS Reopen Comments on Proposed Vessel Speed Rule

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 28, 2024 – In a meeting with the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) and the Association of Marina Industries (AMI) formally requested the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) withdraw its proposed amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction […]

Regulatory Alert – Changed Overtime Rule for Salaried Employees

• This MRAA Alert is a special update regarding the U.S. Department of Labor Final Rule on increased salary requirements for “White Collar Overtime Exemptions” The U.S. Department of Labor on Tuesday, April 23 announced the release of a final rule raising the minimum annual salary threshold for overtime pay eligibility. This primarily applies to […]