President Obama signed bipartisan legislation this week acknowledging that recreational boating is a significant contributor to the nation’s economy, according to BoatUS, which said it will work to implement the law.
Obama signed the $12.3 billion 2013 Water Resources Reform and Development Act, or WRRDA, which passed the House and Senate earlier this month. The bill passed the House by a 412-4 vote. The Senate approved it by 91-7.
BoatUS said the bill recognizes that the federal government needs to do more to help small harbors, address longstanding dredging issues and improve boating and navigation infrastructure.
“Maintenance dredging for small harbors and shallow-draft channels has been chronically underfunded,” BoatUS government affairs senior program coordinator David Kennedy said in a statement. “In addition, funding for infrastructure such as jetties and some inland navigation locks has been significantly curtailed.” Continue Reading at Soundings TradeOnly.
