Cantwell, Sullivan, Colleagues Introduce Sportfish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety and Wildlife Restoration Act

Bill supports fishery restoration and conservation programs and improvements to boating access and infrastructure

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), a member of the Commerce Committee, have introduced the bipartisan Sportfish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2026. The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). The bill would reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which supports more than $600 million annually in fishery restoration and conservation programs, boating access and infrastructure, as well as fish stocking programs important to anglers.

"Washington's outdoor economy depends on healthy fisheries and safe waterways," said Sen. Cantwell. "This bipartisan bill keeps more than $600 million flowing each year to support fish restoration, hatcheries and boating safety. Recreational fishing supports thousands of jobs across our state-this reauthorization protects those jobs and keeps our communities strong."

"Alaska is home to the most incredible sport fishing opportunities anywhere on the planet," said Sen. Sullivan. "Alaska residents and thousands of visitors from across the country and around the world flock to our rivers, lakes, and endless miles of coastline each year for the experience of a lifetime. The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund helps ensure we continue to protect and sustain the world-class aquatic ecosystems that provide these experiences by supporting essential conservation, research, and management initiatives. Over the past five years alone, Alaska has received nearly $124 million-an average of more than $20 million annually-from the fund. I'm glad to introduce bipartisan legislation with my colleagues to reauthorize this important Trust Fund to provide access for anglers and help keep Alaska's waters healthy for generations far into the future."

Funds authorized by this legislation are used for grants to state fish and wildlife agencies for restoration, conservation and infrastructure improvements, as well as Coast Guard grants to improve boating safety and search and rescue efforts by state agencies. The Dingell-Johnson Sportfish Restoration Act was passed in 1950 to authorize the collection of funds generated from excise taxes on equipment used for fishing, and to distribute those funds to states and territories to support conservation and outdoor recreation programs. Under the authority of the Dingell-Johnson Act, funds are collected and deposited in the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.

In 2026, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) received $8.9 million from the Trust Fund. The funds support projects including:

1. Fisheries management and research
2. Hatchery salmon and trout production
3. Comprehensive fisheries sampling and monitoring
4. Rehabilitation efforts to restore fish populations and their habitat
5. Efforts to inspect, maintain, and repair fish screens throughout the state
6. Maintenance of 700 fishing access areas statewide

"On behalf of the American Sportfishing Association, we thank Senators Cantwell and Sullivan for introducing the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund Reauthorization Act," said Glenn Hughes, president and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association. "For 76 years, the sportfishing industry has proudly contributed to this program through the federal excise tax on fishing equipment, creating a powerful, self-sustaining model for conservation. These funds are critical to supporting state-led fisheries management, expanding public access, and maintaining healthy fish populations. Reauthorizing this program ensures that anglers and the broader outdoor recreation community can continue to rely on strong fisheries and accessible waters for generations to come."

"NMMA applauds Senators Sullivan and Cantwell for their bipartisan leadership in introducing legislation to reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund," said Clay Crabtree, interim vice president of public policy and government relations at the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA). "For more than 75 years, this user-pay, public-benefit program has been the backbone of conservation and boating infrastructure in all 50 states, supporting access to our nation's waterways and strengthening local economies. As lawmakers look to support America's outdoor recreation future, reauthorizing and modernizing this program is essential to ensuring that boaters and anglers continue to have safe, reliable access to public waters while supporting the small businesses and manufacturers that power the uniquely American recreational boating industry."

"As the largest payers into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund via the motor fuel tax, America's boat owners appreciate the support of Congress in continuing this highly successful program," said David Kennedy, BoatUS. "Boaters understand the value of keeping our waters accessible, safe, clean, and most importantly, fun. This is why BoatUS supports this legislation and applauds its sponsors."

"We applaud the Senate's introduction of legislation to reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, a critical step in ensuring resource continuity for state-led fisheries management," said Paul Johansen, chief of the wildlife resources section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and president of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. "Funded by excise taxes on sportfishing equipment and motorboat and small engine fuel use, the Fund apportionments to state fish and wildlife agencies support the state fisheries data collection, stocking, and habitat projects needed to conserve fish populations and provide quality recreational fishing opportunities for the public."

"Every time a recreational boater fills up before a day on the water, they are supporting the important work done by the SFRBTF, ultimately playing a role in the conservation and restoration of crucial habitat and improving access for recreational boaters," said Matt Gruhn, president of the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas. "Clean waters, healthy fisheries, and access to both are critical to ensuring the recreational fishing and boating industry remains strong, and the work done by the SFRBTF continues to ensure that those priorities remain in check, further underscoring the importance of reauthorization. We cannot thank Senators Sullivan and Cantwell enough for their leadership in spearheading the reauthorization of this pivotal program."

"The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, together with fishing license revenues, serves as the cornerstone of state-led fisheries conservation across the United States," said Taylor Schmitz, senior vice president of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. "This uniquely American model has proven extraordinarily effective in sustaining aquatic resources and providing critical access. We commend Senators Sullivan and Cantwell, along with the bill's original cosponsors, for their leadership in advancing the reauthorization and long-term protection of this vital program for future generations."

Then Chair of the Commerce Committee, Sen. Cantwell led the reauthorization of this legislation in 2021 with Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

The bill text is HERE.

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