Tag Archives: U.S. House of Representatives

The Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday. This first-ever recreation package debuted with strong bipartisan support of 23 Members of Congress and a press conference on Capitol Hill that featured bill sponsors Congressman Westerman (R-AR) and Congressman Grijalva (D-AZ) as well as ORR Senior Program Director Ambreen Tariq. The ...

Last week, Representatives Bill Posey (R-FL) and Mike Collins (R-GA) voiced concerns in a U.S. House of Representatives hearing over the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s proposed vessel speed restrictions along the Atlantic Coast. This came on the heels of the American Boating Congress (ABC) in Washington, D.C., where the proposed expansion of NOAA’s vessel speed restriction, and the ...

Following months of negotiations and passage in the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, commonly referred to as the bipartisan infrastructure deal (BID), in the weeks to come.  NMMA’s latest Marine Minute highlights priorities for the recreational boating industry, as well as outdoor recreation economy at large, in ...

The U.S. House of Representatives passed without objection H.R. 5126, Direct Enhancement of Snapper Conservation and the Economy through Novel Devices Act of 2020 (DESCEND Act). The bill requires recreational (including charter boats) and commercial fishermen to have on board a venting tool or descending device that is rigged and ready for use while fishing for reef fish in Gulf ...

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. NMMA played a critical role in shaping the bill—which includes key provisions that would improve the safety of the millions of Americans who take to the water each year.  The bill includes a provision that ...

Just before the holiday break, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed a $1.4 trillion spending package to fund the federal government through fiscal year 2020, which includes nearly all the recreational boating industry’s top funding priorities. The NMMA outlined the industry’s requests earlier this year, advocating for programs vital to promoting and protecting boating access and local economies ...

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump and Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives reached an agreement to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico – now known as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) – setting up a full vote in the House as early as next week. In response, NMMA said it welcomed the news, calling ...

With several high-profile initiatives awaiting Congressional action before the end of the year, a package of ten bills focused on bolstering coastal management and improving climate resiliency programs made its way to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this week. After hours of debate on the measure, the chamber passed the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act ...

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2440 – the Full Utilization of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund Act – by a 296-109 margin. The legislation would invest $34 billion in Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) revenues towards critical port and harbor maintenance activities over the next decade without raising a dime in new taxes. NMMA applauded House ...

John Wooden, founder and owner of Minnesota-based River Valley Power and Sport recently testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business. The hearing – titled “Force of Nature: The Power of Small Businesses in America’s Recreational Infrastructure” – served as a platform to examine the economic impact of outdoor recreational infrastructure, how small businesses contribute to the ...