NMMA legislative director Jim Currie urged members Thursday to push their lawmakers to support HR 1462, which would cap ethanol in gasoline at 10 percent.

“If this bill were to pass, it would solve our problems with ethanol,” Currie said during a webinar held to prepare members who plan to attend the American Boating Congress next month in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., introduced the bill on April 10. It currently has 24 co-sponsors (19 Republicans and Democrats).

The bill would amend the Clean Air Act to prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from approving sales of gasoline containing more than 10 percent ethanol. HR 1462 was assigned to a House committee.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association also supports HR 875, which was introduced Feb. 28 by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis. The bill would repeal the EPA’s waiver approving sales of E15 until the agency seeks an independent scientific analysis from the National Academy of Sciences to explore the harmful effects of the blend, according to Sensenbrenner’s office.

The webinar was the latest in a series by the NMMA to help attendees prepare for the ABC, which will be held May 8-9 on Capitol Hill in Washington. The event is designed to enable policy-makers to hear the marine industry’s perspective on crucial issues. The NMMA posted a recording of the full webinar to its website.

Beyond an update on the industry’s legal battle with the EPA over E15, topics discussed during the webinar included:

• The state of the U.S. recreational boating industry: how economic conditions affect marine jobs, sales and production.

• Legislative efforts to authorize the Army Corps of Engineers to study, undertake new projects and modify existing projects regarding navigational dredging.

• Tax issues that will affect businesses’ bottom line.

• The NMMA’s work on issues of access to Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park in Florida and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

The 2013 ABC is co-hosted by 31 industry organizations. Click here to register online.

The ABC has confirmed several speakers, including U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.

— Richard Armstrong