The National Marine Manufacturers Association said Reps. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., and Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., are the new co-chairmen of the Congressional Boating Caucus in the House of Representatives.
The NMMA said Frankel is on the House Infrastructure and Transportation Committee and has been a big supporter of boating, co-sponsoring the deferred importation bill in 2016 and pushing the Coast Guard to fix model-year and update engine regulations in the 2015 Coast Guard authorization bill.
MacArthur is an avid boating enthusiast and a strong supporter of recreational boating and angling.
“I am thrilled to join as co-chair of the U.S. House Boating Caucus,” MacArthur said in a statement. “As a shore resident and active boater in the great state of New Jersey, I have seen firsthand just how much beauty and value the waters bring to our state. The tourism industry on the shore relies on recreational boating, and I look forward to protecting access for my fellow boaters.”
Frankel echoed MacArthur’s sentiments about joining the caucus, emphasizing the significance of the recreational boating industry to the Florida economy.
“The recreational marine industry creates thousands of jobs in South Florida and contributes more than $10 billion in economic impact to our state,” Frankel said.
The NMMA said its staff has reached out to new members of Congress to encourage them to join the caucus and support the industry, which the trade group said drives $121.5 billion in economic impact annually, 650,000 jobs and 35,000 U.S. businesses.
