Tag Archives: Advocacy

In early September, Kansas Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS)’s District Director, Pam Henderson, toured the Cobalt Boats facility in Neodesha, Kan. The tour was hosted by Cobalt Boat staff member, Alex Berry, who has been at the plant for over 30 years. Recreational boating in Kansas has a $2.3 billion annual economic impact while supporting 6,904 jobs across 105 businesses. Cobalt ...

Before last month’s August recess, Congress advanced several (FY) 2024 appropriation bills—which include a number of the recreational boating industry’s funding priorities, such as addressing the proposed vessel speed restrictions.The spending bills include funding for industry priorities by the Department of Commerce, the Department of Interior, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The bills also support important programs that ...

The NMMA announced the relocation of its headquarters to Washington D.C. as the association continues to expand its advocacy work. The NMMA’s previous headquarters were in Chicago, which will continue to serve as a strategic hub for key departments including membership and market expansion. While the NMMA has had a Washington, D.C. office for more than 40 years, its new ...

Last week, NMMA hosted the inaugural Boating Technology Day in Sacramento, with staff members of the California legislature and policy makers in attendance. The event kicked off at the March Fong Secretary of State Building with technology and policy presentations followed by on-water boating demonstrations by NMMA members. Presentations focused on the recreational boating industry’s environmental leadership and reduction of ...

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster was joined earlier this month by Lieutenant Governor Pamela S. Evette, state and local law enforcement officers, state agency leaders, and members of the General Assembly for a ceremonial bill signing of Senate Bill 96, a bill that strengthens boater education requirements. Under current South Carolina law, anyone younger than 16 is required to complete ...

The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas announced that it has added Mike Sayre as Director of Government Relations. As dealers face significant regulatory and legislative challenges to their businesses, the MRAA said it is ramping up its government relations efforts to ensure the voice of the dealers is represented in the halls of government at the federal, state and ...

Multi-line boat builder Smoker Craft Inc. welcomed Indiana’s Second District Congressman Rudy Yakym (R) as a guest of honor at its annual dealer meeting, which kicked off on Sunday at the company’s New Paris, Indiana manufacturing facility. Yakym, a boating enthusiast and boating industry supporter, joined business leaders and senior representatives from more than 230 Smoker Craft dealer partners who ...

The NMMA and recreational boating and fishing industry leaders were in Washington, D.C. last week to express concerns over the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s proposed expansion of its North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule. The proposed expansion would implement a 10 knot (11 mph) speed limit on boats 35 feet and greater across a vast area of ...

Following the conclusion of 2023 state legislative sessions, the NMMA is hosting a webinar on July 26, at 4 p.m. to provide an overview of the legislative priorities with the greatest impact on the recreational boating and fishing industry this year, and what to expect in 2024.The webinar will cover the industry’s policy priorities on the state level, such as boating access ...

In June, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, held a hearing that reviewed the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request for agencies under its purview, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – a leading provider of public recreation opportunities. The hearing emphasized the need for proper funding to maintain USACE managed lands, ...