A federal spending bill signed by President Biden last week includes several provisions helpful to recreational boating and other outdoor industries and marine interests, the National Marine Manufacturers Association reported today.
The fiscal year 2022 appropriation bill includes “the vast majority of the recreational boating industry’s funding priorities,” NMMA reported in a government affairs update on its website.
Among the largest budget items is a grant of $348 million for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, which restores habitat and battles aquatic invasive species.
The spending package devotes $64 million to the Office of Marine Sanctuaries at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In that program, $5 million will be directed toward enhancing anglers’ and boaters’ experiences in national marine sanctuaries.
The Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account will receive $1.5 million for analysis of the impact of outdoor recreation on the U.S. economy.
Other funding is approved for Army Corps of Engineers navigation and harbor projects and to the Department of Commerce for controlling harmful algal blooms.
