The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently approved usage of an ethanol blend of up to 15 percent in gasoline. This gasoline blend is approved for automobiles but not on boats. The problem with this is that many consumers will fuel their vehicles and boats at the same pumps. It is clearly a decision that will […]

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas supports S. 2245, a bill introduced by Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) that would stop the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from taking over all private water in our country and has started a grassroots co-sponsor campaign. The “Preserve the Waters of the U.S. Act” prevents the EPA and the […]

The Washington Post reported today that the House and Senate both approved a 90-day extension for transportation funding. The House endured what The Post suggested was “an angry, finger-pointing debate,” but ultimately extended the funding at the same level for the next 90 days. The Senate, described as angry over the House’s earlier decision, “bowed […]

The Connecticut Marine Trades Association is alerting its members of what it calls “a very intrusive bill,” HB 5128, An Act Concerning Certain Revisions to the Coastal Zone Management Statutes. This bill, which would permit a “rise in the sea level” to be a factor in denying the use of or rebuilding on your waterfront […]

Through the Highway Bill, which we have been following over the last few weeks and months, the House of Representatives is attempting to un-freeze funds from the Harbor Maintenance Fund. The Administration has frozen these funds, which have historically been managed by the Army Corps of Engineers and have been used to dredge larger ports. […]

I find the article at the link below a little hard to believe, but I wanted to provide you with a brief status on the CAFE issue. Like many lobbyists who work on the CAFE issue, I purchased a car of choice several years ago and have been babying it so the car will last […]

The following is a link to an article in the non-partisan newspaper “The Hill,” on the Highway Bill. As you may recall, the Highway Bill is the vehicle for passage of the important Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.  In the past, the Highway Bill has been a non-partisan bill. It has been used by Congress […]

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas authored a letter opposing a state initiative in Massachusetts known as the Salt Water Angler Buy Back Study, which would use federal dollars to pay people not to fish. In Massachusetts, the MRAA supports the position of the Massachusetts MTA to oppose a state program which would pay […]

A proposed U.S. rule which would require automakers to double their vehicles average fuel economy to 54.5 mpg by 2025 may cost consumers $157 billion in additional vehicle costs but could cost the boating industry much more by killing the ability for Americans to pull their boats. The proposed rule requires annual fuel economy increases […]

Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) introduced H.R. 3109, the Keep America’s Waterfronts Working Act of 2012, along with 17 original co-sponsors late in 2011. The bill is very similar to one introduced by Rep. Pingree two years ago, which had the support of several national and state marine trades associations, including MRAA. MRAA has joined a […]