The new $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, has a lot of good news, and new spending, that will help boating communities across the nation.
The bill, officially named the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was hailed by leaders of the marine industry. Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, said that “as more Americans than ever are discovering the benefits of the outdoors – including the many benefits of time spent boating and fishing – this long-awaited achievement comes at an opportune time for the recreational boating industry.”
For his part, Matt Gruhn, president of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, said, “The passing of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package is a critical step in providing the necessary funding for the programs and the resources necessary to keep boaters on the water and support the continued success of our industry.”
Some key provisions in the act:
- $750 million for the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.
- $10 billion to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for recreation infrastructure priorities.
- $455 million annually for five years for the Department of Transportation to improve port facilities on both coasts, the Great Lakes and rivers.
- $7 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers for infrastructure priorities, including projects to reduce storm damage and coastal storm risk.
- $4.35 billion for Western water infrastructure to promote ecosystem restoration and make boating access easier there.
- $100 million for climate-resilient recreation projects.
- Expansion of the Department of Energy’s alternative technology vehicle manufacturing loan program. This lets the recreational boating industry access the DOE’s $17.7 billion loan authority for low-cost loans to support domestic manufacturing of fuel-efficient vehicles. Read more:
http://www.nmma.org/press/article/23827
