NMMA - National Marine Manufacturers Association Inc.
09/02/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/02/2026 08:54
NMMA Urges Congress to Advance Recreational Boating Priorities in Final WRDA
NMMA sent a letter this week to congressional leaders urging them to preserve key recreational boating and access provisions as the House and Senate work toward final passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026.
In the August 31 letter, NMMA thanked leaders of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for advancing strong WRDA bills that recognize recreation as an important mission of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and acknowledge the economic value of Corps-managed recreation sites.
Access to public waters is the foundation of recreational boating, yet aging infrastructure, deferred maintenance, and outdated federal policies continue to place pressure on ramps, marinas, waterways, and other facilities used by millions of Americans.
Both the House and Senate WRDA bills include important steps to address these challenges.
The Senate bill includes several NMMA-supported provisions that would improve transparency and certainty for marinas operating on Corps-managed property, streamline reviews for facility improvements, improve recreation data coordination across federal agencies, address deferred maintenance, and examine Great Lakes recreational boating and dredging needs.
Of particular importance, NMMA urged Congress to retain provisions requiring the Corps' Real Estate Office to better publicize its policies and engage with stakeholders. Greater clarity around leases, upgrades, and infrastructure projects will help marina operators plan for the future, make investments, and better serve boaters.
NMMA also highlighted a Senate provision requiring the Corps to coordinate its recreation databases with other federal agencies. Better and more consistent information can help boaters identify access points, understand available facilities, and safely enjoy public waterways.
The Senate legislation also calls for a report to Congress on recreation fee retention. NMMA supports allowing recreation sites to retain locally generated fees, in addition to receiving regular appropriations, so heavily used facilities can reinvest those dollars into maintenance and improvements.
The House bill similarly advances important recreational boating priorities, including provisions focused on recreational access, Corps real estate policies, use of the agency's recreation authorities, a Great Lakes recreational boating study, and a review of recreation cost-sharing policies.
Together, the bills represent meaningful progress toward modernizing federal policies governing recreation infrastructure and ensuring the Corps better serves the boaters, anglers, marinas, small businesses, and communities that depend on public waterways.
Recreational boating has a $230 billion annual economic impact and supports more than 812,000 American jobs and 36,000 businesses. Healthy, well-maintained waterways and reliable recreation infrastructure are critical to sustaining that economic activity while ensuring Americans can safely access the water.
NMMA will continue working with House and Senate leaders as they negotiate a final WRDA package and will advocate for strong recreational access and infrastructure provisions to remain in the final legislation.
Marine manufacturers and boating advocates can write to their member of Congress to support WRDA by visiting https://www.boatingunited.org/take-action/wrda/.
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