The State of the Union address, delivered Tuesday night by President Trump, touched on key initiatives for recreational boating, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
NMMA president Thom Dammrich responded to the address, saying that the group is optimistic that industry momentum is seeing from tax reform will continue as Trump turns his focus to infrastructure and trade, saying both are critical to the future of recreational boating.
“Marine manufacturers, and the 650,000 American workers they support, rely on robust, free trade, to provide boaters and anglers with the boats and marine products they demand at prices that are fair and sustainable,” Dammrich wrote.
“With the industry facing the threat of skyrocketing prices for aluminum sheet used to manufacturer more than $3 billion in products from 111,000 aluminum boats to thousands of marine trailers, the need for free and fair trade has never been so crucial.”
“As the Administration looks to rebuild our country’s roads, bridges and railways, NMMA is working on behalf of its recreational boat, marine engine and marine accessory manufacturer members to put a spotlight on recreational waterways — an often forgotten, yet vital part of our nation’s infrastructure,” Dammrich said.
“From marinas and ports to dredging and docks, improvements are needed to sustain access to our country’s waterways for the 142 million Americans who go boating each year,” Dammrich wrote.
“We applaud the President’s recognition of the importance of public-private partnerships to creating thriving public spaces and the need for swift and streamlined permitting processes,” he said. “These are significant elements of an infrastructure bill that will aid in sustaining the healthy and growing recreational boating industry.”
