Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) and Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.) were named co-chairs of the Congressional Boating Caucus in the 118th Congress, according to an announcement from the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
With all the rancor and uncertainty in Washington these days, it’s timely to pause and examine what the Boating Caucus means to our industry. For more than 30 years, the Boating Caucus has advocated on countless priority issues for the boating and fishing industries. The Caucus also serves as a potent line of defense against proposals that could damage our industry.
“These congressional champions understand, prioritize and advocate on behalf of marine manufacturers and are key to maintaining the health and continued growth of our industry,” said NMMA president and CEO Frank Hugelmeyer. “Alongside our other industry partners, we look forward to working with this year’s co-chairs to develop and propose commonsense solutions and policies that ensure the 100 million American families who go boating each year can continue enjoying the many benefits that time on the water brings.”
Founded in 1989, the Boating Caucus is a bipartisan group of senators and representatives committed to improving economic conditions that negatively impact our industry, and to protecting the nation’s waterways. It has also addressed boating safety issues, as well as promoting our international trade opportunities.
Caucus numbers are also important — more members means more strength. The Boating Caucus has provided power and leadership on many of our priority issues, including support for access on our nation’s public waters, protecting consumers from misfuelling with E15, ensuring fair and free trade for marine manufacturers, and adequately investing in infrastructure and conservation projects that keep our waters open for future generations.
With the start of the new Congress, which will be in session for two years, there are three actions every dealer and industry member can take to have a positive impact moving forward. First, check the listings below to see if your senators and your representatives are in the Boating Caucus. Second, if any are not, send an email asking them to join. Third, attend the industry’s American Boating Congress, scheduled for May 8-9 in Washington, D.C.
Here are the current Boating Caucus members:
SENATE
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R – TN)
Sen. John Boozman (R – AR)
Sen. Tom Carper (D – DE)
Sen. Susan Collins (R – ME)
Sen. Mike Crapo (R – ID)
Sen. Dick Durbin (D – IL)
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D – NM)
Sen. James Lankford (R – OK)
Sen. Joe Manchin (D – WV)
Sen. Edward Markey (D – MA)
Sen. Chris Murphy (D – CT)
Sen. Patty Murray (D – WA)
Sen. Gary Peters (D – MI)
Sen. Jack Reed (D – RI)
Sen. Brian Schatz (D – HI)
Sen. Tim Scott (R – SC)
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D – MI)
Sen. Thom Tillis (R – NC)
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D – GA)
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D – RI)
Sen. Roger Wicker (R – MS)
Sen. Todd Young (R – IN)
HOUSE MEMBERS
Rep. Brian Babin (R – TX)
Rep. Troy Balderson (R – OH)
Rep. Joyce Beatty (D – OH)
Rep. Jack Bergman (R – MI)
Rep. Don Beyer (D – VA)
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R – FL)
Rep. Brendan Boyle (D – PA)
Rep. Julia Brownley (D – CA)
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R – FL)
Rep. Tim Burchett (R – TN)
Rep. Michael Burgess (R – TX)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R – CA)
Rep. Kat Cammack (R – FL)
Rep. Buddy Carter (R – GA)
Rep. Matt Cartwright (D – PA)
Rep. David Cicilline (D – RI)
Rep. Jim Costa (D – CA)
Rep. Scott DesJarlais (R – TN)
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D – MI)
Rep. Tom Emmer (R – MN)
Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R – TN)
Rep. Lois Frankel (D – FL)
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R – WI)
Rep. Jared Golden (D – ME)
Rep. Garrett Graves (R – LA)
Rep. Glenn Grothman (R – WI)
Rep. Andy Harris (R – MD)
Rep. French Hill (R – AR)
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D – MD)
Rep. Richard Hudson (R – NC)
Rep. Jared Huffman (D – CA)
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R – MI)
Rep. David Joyce (R – OH)
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D – OH)
Rep. Bill Keating (D – MA)
Rep. Dan Kildee (D – MI)
Rep. Derek Kilmer (D – WA)
Rep. Andy Kim (D – NJ)
Rep. Robert Latta (R – OH)
Rep. Ted Lieu (D – CA)
Rep. Nancy Mace (R – SC)
Rep. Brian Mast (R – FL)
Rep. Tom McClintock (R – CA)
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R – NC)
Rep. John Moolenaar (R – MI)
Rep. Seth Moulton (D – MA)
Rep. Greg Murphy (R – NC)
Rep. Grace Napolitano (D – CA)
Rep. Frank Pallone (D – NJ)
Rep. Chris Pappas (D – NH)
Rep. Dean Phillips (D – MN)
Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D – VI)
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R – PA)
Rep. Hal Rogers (R – KY)
Rep. David Rouzer (R – NC)
Rep. John Rutherford (R – FL)
Rep. Steve Scalise (R – LA)
Rep. Austin Scott (R – GA)
Rep. Bobby Scott (D – VA)
Rep. Darren Soto (D – FL)
Rep. Pete Stauber (R – MN)
Rep. Bryan Steil (R – WI)
Rep. Haley Stevens (D – MI)
Rep. Mark Takano (D – CA)
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D – MS)
Rep. Glenn Thompson (R – PA)
Rep. Mike Thompson (D – CA)
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D – MI)
Rep. Paul Tonko (D – NY)
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R – NJ)
Rep. Tim Walberg (R – MI)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D – FL)
Rep. Randy Weber (R – TX)
Rep. Bruce Westerman (R – AR)
Rep. Joe Wilson (R – SC)
Rep. Rob Wittman (R – VA)
