Today, President Obama signed H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Research and Development Act, into law. The WRRDA conference report was originally presented to the President for signature June 3. President Obama had 10 days to sign or veto the act, and on Tuesday, June 10 he officially signed WRRDA into law. After months of negotiating, […]

Since the creation of the domestic market for corn-based ethanol as an additive for gasoline, the federal government has nurtured and maintained the ethanol industry with a steady stream of subsidies. Originally sold as a way to achieve energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ethanol has been a favorite issue of lawmakers. Ethanol producers […]

A new University of Nebraska study released April 20 in a publication called Nature Climate Change says eliminating ethanol as a biofuel can actually decrease soil organic carbon. The study claims cellulosic biofuels like ethanol actually generate more greenhouse gases than gasoline. As expected, the biofuel industry is speaking out against the Nebraska study, calling […]

The U.S. Senate voted 96-3 to open debate on a bill that will renew several tax breaks known as the Bush Tax Cuts, first passed in 2008 to help stimulate the economy. Several issues important to marine retailers are included in the tax-extender package, including a return to the $5 million exemption for the estate […]

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service gave recreational boaters and anglers good news May 9 when it announced program competitive grants totaling $14.27 million to 10 states and Washington, D.C. from the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program. The Service also will provide $2.48 million to 27 states willing to match smaller, non-competitive grants. These funds […]

The American Boating Congress (ABC) is the industry’s annual legislative conference that brings recreational boating leaders to our nation’s capital to formulate public policy and present a unified front on issues that impact the health and profitability of marine businesses. This year, 38 organizations are endorsing ABC as co-hosts – including the Marine Retailers Association […]

Increasing ethanol content in gasoline is bad for boats and the boating business. The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) opposes attempts to increase the Renewable Fuel Standard, which would enable the level of ethanol in gasoline to reach 15 percent (E-15) or higher, and asks Congress to support legislation reducing the ethanol content […]

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) is asking Congress to reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund with some recommended amendments to the allocation of program funds. The Trust Fund, which is funded by $600 million collected annually from taxes on fishing tackle, import duties on boats and equipment, and a […]

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), BoatUS and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) met with key staff members in Rep. Candice Miller’s (R-MI) office March 28 to discuss the history and potential impact of the expanding Asian carp threat in the Great Lakes. Miller introduced H.R. 4001, the Defending  Against Aquatic Invasive […]

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) is inviting American Boating Congress (ABC) attendees to attend a pre-conference issues briefing webinar on Wednesday, April 23 from 2 to 3 p.m. ET. During this one-hour webinar, NMMA government relations staff will review the recreational boating industry’s most important policy issues and how to best communicate them to […]