On September 9th, Congressman Garret Graves (R-LA-6) introduced H.R.3462, the Sport Fish Restoration and Recreational Boating Safety Act of 2015, an important step in reauthorizing a crucial program that provides access and conservation programs to recreational boaters across the country. The measure has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, and the Committee […]

On August 3rd, hundreds of concerned Florida locals crowded inside the William F. Dickinson community center in Homestead, Florida to witness a joint oversight hearing of the House Committee On Small Business and the House Committee on Natural Resources. Committee members gathered to discuss restricted access at Biscayne National Park and implications for fishermen, small […]

On July 23rd, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a joint hearing of the Subcommittee on Energy and the Subcommittee on Oversight to discuss the EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The main focus of the meeting was to discuss the changes that have occurred in our nations energy sector between 2005, when […]

Washington, D.C. – Alaska Congressman Don Young’s legislation to renew, amend and strengthen the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act has passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a margin of 225 to 152. The legislation, H.R. 1335, the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act,  represents more than four years of work by […]

The Environmental Protection Agency has released its proposal for the next three years of the ethanol mandate. It set its overdue 2014 requirements at the actual level of production — 15.93 billion gallons of biofuel — increasing that total to 16.3 billion gallons this year and 17.4 billion gallons in 2016. The statutory requirement for […]

On April 30, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved a bipartisan bill to strengthen the U.S. Coast Guard.  “I am proud of the bipartisan legislation that the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved today,” says Hunter. “The men and women of the Coast Guard continue to perform a vital role in supporting maritime safety and […]

The House Committee on Natural Resources gave initial approval to H.R. 1335, or the “Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act” on April 30th. Introduced by Congressman Don Young (R-AK), the measure incorporates key provisions of the Morris-Deal Commission Report on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management. Congressman Young commented on the measure, stating […]

Recently, the House approved legislation to repeal the 40% federal tax on estates. H.R. 1105, introduced by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) passed the GOP controlled chamber by a vote of 240-179.  In the Senate, Sen. Jon Thune (R-S.D.) is sponsoring a companion bill, as well as a successful amendment to the Senate’s 2016 budget. Although […]

MRAA Identifies Legislative Priorities for 2015 “Take action to be an advocate and supporter of the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund to ensure its continued vitality and success as a “user pays, public benefits” program, as it is one of the most important programs in the nation for fisheries management, conservation, boating safety, angler and […]

On Saturday evening, Nov. 15, representatives of the many regional, state and local marine trades associations will meet for the 26th time at the annual Marine Dealer Conference & Expo, the industry’s premier dealer educational event, to discuss legislation at the state and federal level. Under the organization of the Advisory Council of Marine Associations […]