Boating Industry

April 2017

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April 2017 | Boating Industry | 21 [ ABC 2017 Update ] www.BoatingIndustry.com Key issues for 2017 At ABC and beyond, NMMA and other industry advocates will be focusing on multiple issues that matter to the boating industry. "We've tried to align our priorities with what Congress is thinking, their top priorities as well as the adminis- tration," Vasilaros said. "Issues like transportation, tax reform, are really hot button issues on Capitol Hill right now. We wanted to make sure the boating industry was engaged in those discussions. We've already started hav- ing meetings and laying out our posi- tions on those key issues." Other issues the industry has worked on for years – such as ethanol, Magnuson-Stevens reform and trade – will also continue to be a priority. As a tool to help industry advocates educate offi cials, NMMA has produced a policy agenda for 2017 (see sidebar). On ethanol, there have been "mixed mes- sages" from the administration, with a commit- ment to keep the Renewable Fuel Standard, but also perhaps some opportunity for reform, as the new head of the EPA, Scott Pruitt, has been open to reforms in the past. "We're really making sure we address con- sumer education," Vasilaros said. "The truth is more ethanol is coming out in our fuel supply and will be more readily available. Consumers need to know what the difference is." On trade, NMMA has generally been in favor of more open trade, and supported the Trans- Pacifi c Partnership last year. Elected offi cials such as 2016 speaker Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., will be among the speakers. NMMA POLICY AGENDA In advance of the Ameri- can Boating Congress, NMMA has issued its 2017 Policy Agenda. "Marine Manufacturing: Powering the American Economy" lays out the association's stands on key government and regulatory issues. It also details the $121.5 billion economic impact of recreational boating, highlighting the 35,000 small businesses and 650,000 boating employees across the country. "This 2017 Policy Agenda outlines key priorities for the new Administration and 115th Congress to consider," NMMA President Thom Dammrich writes in his introduction. "Sound policies on issues ranging from transportation and fuel, to access, tax and immigration reform will help sustain and grow this critical manufac- turing sector, important American pastime and signifi cant economic driver. We must protect and promote the recreational boating industry." The full publication is available from NMMA, but here are some goals and actions the group is urging on key issues: Transportation & infrastructure Invest in boating facilities and waterways access. Expand grant funding for pump out and aquatic invasive species cleaning stations to better protect the environment. Dredge the Intercoastal Waterway. Keep our vast network of waterways safe, navi- gable and accessible — make recreation a priority on the 2,000 federally managed lakes throughout the country. Access Reverse the marine reserve at Biscayne National Park. Require general management plans to consider the economic impact of recreational activities before denying/limiting access. Allow for shorter review periods. Taxes & tax reform Lower the tax rate for domestic businesses to be globally competitive. Reward investment through the immediate write- off of business investments. Protect small and family-owned businesses from inequitable regulations and penalties. Reduce compliance burdens and costs to make it easier for small- and medium-sized companies. Recreational fi shing Support funding to grow recruitment, retention and reactivation of anglers — the "3 R's." Introduce legislation to modernize recreational salt- water fi shing policy. Create a new FACA to advise the Secretary of Commerce on recreational fi shing matters. Fuel policy Preserve true consumer choice at the pump. Protect boaters with better misfueling safeguards. Reform the Renewable Fuel Standard before 2022. Building jobs in America Fix the nation's broken immigration system. Help America develop a more skilled workforce. Boating safety Introduce boating safety legislation that tackles EPRIBS and engine cutoff devices. Allow for alternative distress signals, such as distress lights, which last longer and do not have disposal issues. Increase grant funding for hands on skills training programs. Reduce barriers for educational instructors — cur- rent "master captains license" are onerous, expensive and infl exible for all training programs. Summer boating camps need fl exibility to encour- age safe instruction and promote on-water skills. Conservation Protect the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust fund as an important source of conservation for our waterways. Modernize the SFRBTF to better recruit, retain and reactive anglers and educate the public on the Trust Fund and its important value for conservation. Support necessary infrastructure and education funding to prevent the spread of AIS in our nation's lakes. Trade Don't give up on the Trans Pacifi c Partnership. Continue negotiations on the Trans Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Protect the Export-Import Bank fi nancing to facilitate trade, open new market opportunities for small businesses, and ensure competitiveness for U.S. manufacturers. Engage marine manufacturers on NAFTA 2.0.

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