MRAA supports H.R. 3896, a bill introduced on January 16, 2014 by Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, to amend the Longshore and Harbor Worker’s Compensation Act to provide a definition of recreational vessel that is a better and clearer application of the Longshore Act to marinas and insurance companies providing service work on recreational boats. There are […]
Tag: Legislative Updates
The Taxing Question in Congress
For the past several years, Congress has faced a year-end deadline to pass the tax extenders bill. It has been one of Congress’s bad habits. But it did not happen this year causing several key pro-business tax deductions like the estate tax and allowing business to deduct the cost of equipment purchases in the year […]
Congress Looks at Several Ways to Increase Revenue for Transportation
A bipartisan effort to find new revenue to fund roads, bridges, and mass transit may hit recreational boating hard. Historically, transportation has been a bipartisan effort in Congress. So far 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats in the House support a plan that would fund loans for infrastructure improvements from bonds that would be sold to […]
Congress Turns to Magnuson-Stevens, the Saltwater Fisheries Management Act
On February 4, 2014 the House Committee on Natural Resources held its first hearing on the re-authorization of the important Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act. This legislation guides federal saltwater fisheries management. A discussion draft of the authorization bill had been distributed to interested groups several weeks before the hearing. MRAA is generally pleased […]
MRAA Issues Action Alert on Ethanol
The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has called marine retailers to action by asking them to contact the U.S. Environmental Protections Agency in strong support of its recent action to reduce the Congressional mandate on the renewable fuel standard (RFS) for corn-based ethanol, for 2014 to 2013 levels. For the past couple of years, […]
WRRDA in Conference Would Provide Funds for Recreational Harbors
H.R. 3080 and S. 601, the Water Resources Reform and Development Acts have passed the House and Senate and now reside in a conference committee to negotiate the differences between the two bills. The conference committee has met and several Members of Congress expect a final resolution to be made in January. The Corps has […]
MRAA Considers Support of Marina Operator Tax Obligation Act
MRAA is considering support of H.R. 2795, the Marina Operator Tax Obligation Act introduced by Representative Doug Collins (R-Georgia) on July 23, 2013. The bill has one co-sponsor, Representative Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), and has been referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment. No action has yet been scheduled by the Subcommittee. The bill […]
Rep. Blumenauer Introduces Bill to Double Federal Gas Tax
Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) introduced H.R. 3636, the Update, Promote and Develop America’s Transportation Essential Act on December 3, 2013. The committee, commonly referred to as the Committee of Ways and Means, has no cosponsors. The bill would increase the federal excise tax on gasoline to 33.3 cents per gallon after 2015, and before 2025 […]
Rep. Candice Miller Calls for Swift Action to Protect Great Lakes from Asian Carp
Calling for a multi-layered approach to protect the health of the Great Lakes, Representative Miller (R-Michigan) thanked the Army Corps of Engineers for their recent study on how to manage invasive species in the Great Lakes, and expressed her concern about the lack of call to immediate action to protect the Great Lakes from the […]
Congress Issues Discussion Draft of Magnuson-Stevens Fishing Act
MRAA is reviewing a Discussion Draft of the important Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, which provides flexibility to fishery managers and stability for anglers. The Discussion Draft was issued by the House Natural resources Committee. MRAA expects the Committee will introduce the bill in the next several months. Magnuson-Stevens sets fishing plans to re-stock […]