Congressional Boating Congress Asked to Support the Boating Industry

Leaders of the boating industry held briefings on Capitol Hill for members of the Congressional Boating Congress and their staffs to highlight how Congress can help protect the recreational boating industry and its $121 billion impact on the U.S. economy.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and the Marine Retailers Association of America (MRAA) hosted the event, which featured industry experts from Brunswick Corporation, BoatUS Foundation, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association, Safe Harbor Marinas and NMMA. The group asked the 80 in attendance to support key boating safety and infrastructure programs.

Specifically NMMA introduced the industry’s infrastructure priorities; Brunswick Corporation provided an analysis why engine cut-off devices and Emergency Locator Beacons should be supported in U.S. Coast Guard reauthorizations; BoatUS Foundation gave insight into the problem of Aquatic Invasive Species and the need for consistent management across the U.S.; AIWA described the crucial need to provide funds to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway to its authorized depths; and Safe Harbor Marinas discussed the value of public-private partnerships to address the aging infrastructure on properties owned by federal and state water managers.