Page 13 - Mid America Boating - January 2022 issue

BoatUS: Signing of

infrastructure bill is good for

recreational boaters, anglers

With President Biden’s November 2021 signing boating equipment.
of the $1.2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure “The reauthorization of Sport Fish is the
Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), you may have cornerstone of so much of what recreational
mistakenly thought that only road, bridge, rail, boaters and anglers connect to while on the
power and water infrastructure, public transit, water,” said BoatUS Manager of Government
drinking and wastewater, high speed internet, Affairs David Kennedy. He adds, “BoatUS
environmental, and clean energy interests may greatly thanks Sport Fish reauthorization 13 [ MID-AMERICA BOATING ] JANUARY/FEBRUAR 2022
benefit. The nation’s largest advocacy, services, bill sponsors, Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
and safety group, Boat Owners Association of and Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Reps. Debbie
The United States (BoatUS), says recreation- Dingell (D-MI) and Garett Graves (R-LA).
al boaters also made some significant gains Their bipartisanship is a big plus for boaters
on the bill touted as a “once-in-a-generation and anglers.”
investment in our infrastructure.” Sport Fish reauthorization will also pay
The biggest payoff for boaters with the IIJA for a comprehensive study on the growing
comes the reauthorization of the “Sport Fish number of nonmotorized paddlecraft, resul-
Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, tant user conflicts, and potential for increased
and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2021,” which accidents. Kennedy notes that while paddlec-
provides funding for state-based conservation raft operators utilize launch ramps and other
programs, boating safety, aquatic resources recreational boating facilities, “they do not
education, pumpout, derelict vessel, fisheries currently pay into the trust fund, and we need
management and restoration. to look at how to equitably fund waterway
‘Sport Fish’ also funds recreational boat access points.”
access, such as local launch ramps, as well IIJA also provides funds to US Army Corps
as the highly popular Boating Infrastructure of Engineers and other water-resource proj-
Grant (BIG) program that grows the availabil- ects, including inland waterways construc-
ity of safe and protected harborage for over- tion, flood control, resiliency, watershed
night, transient boaters. A “user pay – public rehabilitation, aquatic ecosystem restoration,
benefit” funding mechanism, Sport Fish’s invasive species control, marine debris
nearly $650 million trust fund budget comes removal, and inland and coastal navigation
from boat fuel taxes and excise taxes paid by projects — all good things to any boater’s or
boaters and anglers purchasing fishing and angler’s ear. MAB