Boating industry priorities in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill

United States Capitol © National Marine Manufacturers Association

With a final Senate vote expected on the bipartisan infrastructure package in the coming days, NMMA applauds the decision to include funding for essential water and recreation infrastructure needs, many of which have been priorities in the association's advocacy efforts over the past year.

The infrastructure package is nearly $1 trillion, distributed over eight years, with roughly $550 billion in new spending. Within the package, there are two major areas of funding that will go to benefit the recreational boating community—$17 billion towards ports and waterways and $46 billion for resiliency against environmental impacts.

Of the $17 billion for ports and waterways, NMMA endorses the following measures:

• Roughly $10 billion to support US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) infrastructure priorities—such as construction projects to address the large backlog of authorized projects that have yet to receive funding. This measure also includes a dedicated amount for repairing damages to USACE projects caused by natural disasters, helping to provide updates for key recreational areas.
• $455 million annually for five years for the Department of Transportation's Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), which will allow significant improvements to port facilities on coasts, rivers, and the Great Lakes.
• $5 million annually for five years for the Marine Highways Program funds, which will work to expand the use of America's navigable waters and expand marine highway service options.