American Boating Congress opens 2016 registration
The American Boating Congress, the marine industry’s annual legislative conference, is now open for registration.
Each year, ABC brings industry leaders together to champion recreational boating, formulate public policy and present a unified front on issues that impact marine businesses. In 2015, NMMA members, co-hosts and industry stakeholders completed more than 400 meetings on Capitol Hill.
The annual conference helps further the industry’s agenda on Capitol Hill, and played a key role in several important victories in 2015:
- The introduction of nine pieces of new legislation calling for a reform to the Renewable Fuel Standard, a letter from 184 elected officials urging EPA to take action, and a final EPA ruling that set renewable volume obligations to levels lower than the legal mandates—preventing a massive flood of E15 into the marketplace.
- The House of Representatives passed the U.S. Coast Guard Reauthorization bill, HR 1987. Language was included in the bill that supports model year and engine weight updates.
- Reauthorized $600 million Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust fund as part of Highway Transportation bill for five years.
- Enabled recreational vessel travel to Cuba.
- Passed “Tax Extenders” package that make permanent tax breaks important to manufacturers such as R&D and bonus depreciation.
- Passed legislation in House and Senate to fix model year definition.
- Merged with MRAA to form stronger BoatPAC and raised $131,823.81 from 467 contributors.
ABC is your chance to meet elected officials to discuss your policy concerns; Speak directly with policymakers in your Congressional district; learn more about the Congressional process and how you can stay involved year round; hear from elected officials, policy makers, and distinguished speakers; and join peers from all segments of the industry to help ensure a healthy future for recreational boating.
This year’s conference location:
Renaissance Washington, D.C.
999 Ninth Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
Click here to book your room. Click here to register for ABC 2016.
For more information on ABC, visit www.nmma.org/abc or contact Laura Crisler at lcrisler@nmma.org or 202-737-974.
