01/14/2015

NMMA BoatPAC – Year-End Update

In 2014 the NMMA BoatPAC raised over $100,000 through direct member contributions. The NMMA BoatPAC also hosted 9 political fundraisers, bringing the total amount raised for political candidates to over $200,000. The BoatPAC board appreciates your support of BoatPAC in 2014 and we look forward to working with you in representing the marine manufacturing and recreational boating industry in the coming year. Below you will find a comprehensive recap of our 2014 government relations efforts. Be on the lookout for more news from BoatPAC in the near future.

With the year winding down and the 113th Congress on its way out, the NMMA government relations department appreciates all of your support as advocates for the boating industry. Whether you attended the American Boating Congress, joined Boating United, learned more about BoatPAC or simply stayed informed on the issues affecting our industry, YOUR support assisted in our shared accomplishments across multiple advocacy areas. Building Relationships on Capitol Hill

• This year's American Boating Congress (ABC) saw the highest level of attendance in at least the past 5 years, with 230 conference attendees, a 19% growth. The attendance record also increased our industry's presence on Capitol Hill, with 458 Hill visiting taking place during the event.
• NMMA has worked to add 18 new members to the Boating Caucus, strengthening our relationships on Capitol Hill.
• Government Relations hosted four Congressional Boating Caucus briefings throughout the year, consistently educating members of Congress about the top issues facing the boating industry.

Grassroots Advocacy in Action

• In 2014, grassroots advocacy saw an overhaul in the form of a new advocacy platform, BoatingUnited.com. Since its inception, more than 25,000 advocates have joined Boating United, receiving timely and local action alerts on issues specific to the boating industry.
• What does that mean? As a part of this, NMMA's grassroots advocates have sent more than 2,600 letters to Congress to end the E15 mandate; a Virginia General Assembly bill was successfully vetoed to ensure proper boater safety; and 1,000 letters were sent recruiting new Congressional Boating Caucus members!

Federal Feats

• As a result of successful lobbying efforts, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) passed and signed into law, ensuring that our waterways are clean, maintained and accessible.
• NMMA worked to develop an agreement on the new definition of model year with industry stakeholders and the U.S. Coast Guard, moving forward with regulatory fix.
• After lobbying the issue, GR staff saw the Highway Trust Fund and Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (SFRBTF) reauthorized until May 2015.
• Government Relations staff gave a presentation to trade negotiators for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) on the insertion of recreational boating annex.
• NMMA in conjunction with Lauderdale Marine Center (LMC) successfully finalized a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard which addresses the fire risks of spray painting large yachts in temporary enclosures.
• In what is the third year of what has been a very successful renewable fuel test program, NMMA, in conjunction with our members and industry partners, continued to test isobutanol as an alternative to ethanol. Funding has also been approved to conduct additional research in 2015.

State to State Success

• A new law in Iowa, supported by NMMA, supports the development of biobutanol and biobutanol-blended gasoline, which are next-generation biofuels. Iowa is one of the first states to specifically support the use of biobutanol.
• NMMA and other supporters of recreational fishing recently created the California Sportfishing Alliance to support fishing issues on the west coast.
• After working closely with Governor Rick Scott, starting April 30, 2015 NMMA manufacturers in Florida no longer must pay sales tax on the purchase of manufacturing equipment.
• Following lobbying efforts by NMMA, BoatU.S., Association of Marina Industries, Virginia Marine Trades Association and state boating safety organizations, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe vetoed legislation that would have gutted a portion of the state's mandatory boating safety education law.
• Following testimony by NMMA before the state Senate Special Committee on Watercraft Safety, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed into law a mandatory boater safety education requirement.
• With support from NMMA, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law Assembly Bill 3471, a boater safety education requirement, which will require those born after 1996 to pass a safety course.

Sharing our Story

• In 2014, NMMA partnered with the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute to support the Look Before You Pump campaign, educating consumers about the harmful effects of ethanol. Rallying the support of our stakeholders, educational materials are now available to customers at retail stores including West Marine, Tracker, Mercury and Marine Max.
• NMMA government relations participated in the development of the Morris-Deal commission report and, once published, led the industry launch at the Miami Boat Show as well as a National Press Club briefing and Hill event.
• NMMA's social media footprint is ever-growing. @therealnmma Twitter followers have grown by 48% in 2014 and now include policymakers like Rep. Joe Garcia and Rep. Stephen Fincher.

NMMA government relations staff looks forward to continuing this momentum and doing great things together in 2015!

Questions about BoatPAC? Contact Andrew Blascovich at ablascovich@nmma.org. Questions about other government relations updates listed here? Contact Lauren Dunn at ldunn@nmma.org.