NMMA Highlights Boating at National Conference of State Legislators

In early August, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) state government relations staff met with state lawmakers, agencies and stakeholders at the annual conference of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the nation’s premier bipartisan gathering of state legislators and staff.

The NMMA team highlighted the recreational boating and fishing industry’s importance as a key economic driver in communities across the country, contributing more than $230 billion to the nation’s economy and supporting more than 812,000 jobs. Also shared with lawmakers and government stakeholders was the boating industry’s advancements and innovations in sustainability as showcased in the industry’s Propelling our Future report.

NMMA’s outdoor recreation display included a Barletta pontoon boat courtesy of SeaRay of Louisville dealership. The pontoon display helped to emphasize the top priorities of the recreational boating industry to the more than 1,200 attendees across all 50 states.

Those priorities are:

• protect public waters and boating access
• keep U.S. marine manufacturing globally competitive
• improve and expand recreation infrastructure
• drive industry sustainability and innovation progress

Keynote speakers and political strategists Donna Brazile and Kellyanne Conway spoke to the unpredictable nature of the upcoming presidential election. Both experts stressed the importance of civility and policy-focused debates amidst extreme partisan divisions, advocating for constructive engagement rather than divisive rhetoric. They also emphasized the critical role of state legislators in connecting with and addressing community needs.

More information on NMMA’s state policy priorities may be accessed here.