After a five-week recess, Congress returned to work Sept. 8 with the hope of averting a government shutdown before rushing back to the campaign trail. With many close elections anticipated and Congressional approval ratings in the single digits, Congressional members are currently spending more time trying to get reelected than they are on legislative work. […]

With 24 co-sponsors, a bill introduced by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) has the full support of several large, diverse organizations working together to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). H.R. 875 was reported out of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee in April 2014 and is waiting for House floor action. The coalition has […]

Congress sent H.R. 5021, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act, to President Obama Aug. 1. The bill successfully amends the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund to May 31, 2015 and provides funding for programs important to recreational boating for coastal wetlands restoration, recreational boating safety, sport fish restoration, projects under the Clean Vessel […]

Many conservatives who believe “no legislation is good legislation,” after years of Congress passing laws that created an anti-business government bogged down by too many rules and regulations, may rejoice in the inaction of our current Do-Nothing Congress. Others may feel the opposite and lament Congress’ inability to get things done. But either way, there’s […]

In the face of rapidly changing and advancing technology like GPS, AIS, electronic chart display, cellular devices and the like, the fundamental navigation needs of mariners have changed significantly over the last decade. These changes have presented the federal government — including the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Oceanic and […]

Efforts to repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard continue on Capitol Hill. The Congressional Budget Office just published a report on RFS that evaluates how much biofuel production needs to grow to comply with the program, as well as its impact on food prices, fuel prices and emissions under several different scenarios. The report addresses three […]

Talks on a new highway bill are gearing up in Congress as the all-encompassing Highway Trust Fund is set to expire August 1. The House passed an $11 billion bill by a vote of 367 to 55 to help keep the Highway Trust Fund afloat until Spring 2015. The Senate has yet to vote on […]

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. […]