The National Marine Manufacturers Association this week praised Congress for the bipartisan passage of the Water Resources Development Act. The legislation strengthens the role of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in managing public lands and waters, and provides for measures to maintain and modernize recreational facilities such as boat ramps and campgrounds.
“Outdoor recreation is a vital economic driver in the United States, contributing 2.3% of the national GDP and generating $1.2 trillion in gross economic output in 2023,” NMMA said in a statement. “Activities like boating, fishing and camping account for over 30% of this output, supporting over 5 million American jobs.”
NMMA issued a letter to senators and committee members who were instrumental in the passage of the bill.
“The recreational boating industry looks forward to continuing its work with lawmakers to advance policies that protect public access, improve and expand recreation infrastructure, drive sustainability and innovation progress, and keep U.S. marine manufacturing globally competitive,” NMMA said in the statement.
