Advocacy, Access, & the Boating Industry

Host Kristina Hebert sits down with Clay Crabtree, Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs at the National Marine Manufacturers Association, from the American Boating Congress in Washington, DC, to discuss the policies shaping the future of recreational boating. 

From the Sportfish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund to water access, trade policy, tariffs, and fuel regulations, Kristina and Clay break down the issues impacting boating businesses, conservation, and access nationwide. They also explore how advocacy and industry relationships continue to drive real results in Washington. 

Listen now, subscribe, like, and leave a comment or review to help more boating professionals and enthusiasts join the conversation.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to the

Welcome From Boating Congress

SPEAKER_01 0:01

Wards Wave Podcast. I'm here at the American Voting Congress with Clay Crabtree, who is the Vice President of Public Policy and Government Affairs for the National Marine Manufacturers, and we are here to talk about federal advocacy for the voting industry. Welcome. Thank you so much. I'm excited to be here. Yeah, so so we're here in DC and NMMA is um which I which a lot of people may not know how much the National Marine Manufacturers spends on advocacy, not necessarily money, but time, effort, resources over the years and all of that. So let's let's let's talk about what NMMA does at the federal level from an advocacy perspective.

What NMMA Does In DC

SPEAKER_00 0:37

Sure, I'm happy to do that. And thanks again for having me here. Um and it's an exciting time to be here with, as you mentioned, the American Boating Congress. Um and this is, you know, our I would say marquee advocacy event of the year in Washington, D.C. And it's great to have uh so many executives and uh leaders across the recreational boating industry in DC to be able to go to Capitol Hill, talk with their member of Congress, talk with their uh their senator. Um and this is something that we you know we always say that advocacy doesn't stop with the this one event. It's an ongoing, uh constant uh need for our industry. And it's very important that when you do come to Washington, D.C., it's about building those relationships with your member of Congress for them to be able to hear from the business um in their state and in their district. Um and but this is something that we at NMMA we do every day. Um we're here, we have a federal affairs team in Washington, D.C., and we're always advocating on behalf of the recreational boating industry, and it's about educating members of Congress and congressional staff of the you know economic impact the recreational boating industry has, the unique policy priorities that our industry has. Um and so we're doing it every day, and you know, congressional staff probably are tired of seeing our faces at this point. And so when you know we have the American Boating Congress or we have uh NMMA members in town, um, I think that's one of the most effective things that we can do because they want to hear from the people that are in their district and their state, not just from you know, Clay in Washington, DC, uh representing on behalf of the entire recreational boating industry. They want to hear from the boat builder, the engine manufacturer, the electronics manufacturer that has you know 200 jobs in their district and want to hear from them as to what their priorities are, what are their needs. Um and you know, member of Congress and congressional staff are certainly gonna listen a little bit closer when they are hearing from you know their direct constituents.

Relationship Building That Actually Works

SPEAKER_01 2:39

Well, I think it's important what you just said, it's about building relationships. There's so much noise out there right now with people feeling like you know, um politics are so partisan and nothing ever gets done. And why would I even want to participate? And and I will say that I think attending a converse and a conference like this, you really get to realize it's it's just people. There's 535 members, they all have staff, and their job is to listen to constituents and industries and and and and regulate based on that input. But if the input's not being provided and and people aren't expressing uh what's important to their businesses, then then the lawmakers don't know how to issue those laws or what those impacts are. And so I do think it's so important to really, like you said, have the small businesses here. So all year long, National Marine Manufacturers Association is working on federal advocacy and trying to make sure that the industry and small businesses can all thrive, but also educating and environmental. So some of the top issues that are going on right now, let's go through those.

SPEAKER_00 3:41

Certainly.

Trust Fund That Boaters Pay Into

SPEAKER_00 3:42

I mean, for us there are several, and like that's the thing. American Voting Congress this year couldn't be happening at a better time. Um, even though federal government is slow, um, Congress is slow to act on certain issues. Um key items that we've been working on are top of mind for um Congress right now, and that includes a lot of issues related to infrastructure and access, which is a top priority for the voting industry, not just this year, but always trying to get on the water. Um, particularly, I would say um, you know, we're in this moment where um, you know, a couple of our priorities are being considered in Congress right now, and that's the reauthorization of the Sportfish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which is a mouthful. Sure. I get that. Um, but this trust fund, it was created back in 1950 at the behest of boaters, anglers, manufacturers who said, hey, federal government, we want to be able to fish more. We're tired of our fish habitats being overfished or not having access or infrastructure to be able to get on the water. And they said, tax us. And so anytime you buy a fishing rod or piece of tackle, um, fishing reel, 10% of that tax goes back to the government and it gets collected into a trust fund. And over the years they've added on different excise taxes, the biggest component of that now is a motorboat fuel tax. And so motors um are the biggest contributors to the motor to the Sportfish Restoration Boating Trust Fund. Um, we pay about, I think it's probably at this point, about 70% of the entire trust fund comes from motorboat fuel taxes. And all of those things get cobbered uh cobbled together. And um as of last year, it was almost $800 million annually, and that's annually paid for by boaters, anglers, manufacturers. Um, and it serves as the backbone of infrastructure funding, um, conservation, fish habitat restoration, state fish and wildlife agencies. A lot of their funding comes from this trust fund that is all paid for by us. Um, some of the programs within it expire in September, September 30th of this year. And so our job and our priority is getting that program reauthorized. So it's important, you know, constantly sharing the story of this unique public-private partnership that's really a unique story has with the federal government and the states as well, because this funding goes out to all 50 states, and so that's a unique opportunity for us to be able to share those stories from each state with these members of Congress who are responsible for reauthorizing this.

SPEAKER_01 6:22

It really is. I mean, to have an industry go before Congress and say, we need all these things, tax us, we'll pay for it.

SPEAKER_00 6:28

Who says that?

SPEAKER_01 6:30

I agree. Right. So that that that just goes to show though the heart of voters and the and the more that they use and the more supplies that they use and the more they vote and the more that they buy, more money goes into the restoration. So now, if this can I ask the question, what if it's not renewed? What happens to those dollars? Do they get allocated to something else?

SPEAKER_00 6:47

In the very unlikely chance that it would not be authorized, yes, then the program um would run into funding issues. But it has been, you know, created back in 1950. It is always strongly bipartisan, bicameral, which means both the House and Senate um always, you know, vote to reauthorize this legislation. And so we're very confident, um, you know, not sure when, um, because it's hard to predict anything on timing with Congress this year, but um, that we will get it across the finish line because we do have two bills um in Congress right now that would reauthorize a program. Um in the House we have HR 3858, very bipartisan um bill that is led by Congresswoman uh Debbie Dingle of Michigan, as well as Congressman Rob Whitman from Virginia.

SPEAKER_01 7:36

Both voting caucus members?

SPEAKER_00 7:38

Both voting caucus members, strong supporters of the community and the industry, the recreational boating and fishing uh community. Um, and so they have their bill in the House uh that's kind of making its way through the process. Uh similarly, in the Senate, we have Senate Bill 4250, which is uh very bipartisan. It's led by uh Senator Dan Sullivan, okay, Republican from Alaska, and Senator Um Maria Cantwell, uh Democrat from Washington. That bill has 10 co-sponsors. All of them are on the Senate Commerce Committee, which is where this bill will go through. And it's five Republicans, five Democrats on the bill. So you can see, and I think you'll, you know, with a lot of our our issues, and especially when it comes to infrastructure, when it comes to access, um, it is very very bipartisan when it comes to the government.

SPEAKER_01 8:30

Which is key in having any success. To have any success um with Congress right now and um and the legislation in general, having bipartisan support is But that's a testimony to your leadership as well, because there are with partisan politics the way they are, sometimes people lose focus of the issues and just get so focused on which member or that member or which member is supporting or not. And I think it just goes to show that the industry is well respected and supported bicamerally, like you said, by both parties and both chambers. And um I think that uh the the 1950s is a good mark for me. We started our business. So as a small business, uh I'm third generation started in 1950, so we definitely have to see this over the finish line. Yep. And I know that um, so if someone's not attending this conference and they want to be able, they can reach out to their representative, you have letters already established on the website.

SPEAKER_00 9:23

Uh yes, we will have uh information on the website and you know, highlighting our our different policies, and there will be more information as the summer progresses kind of progresses coming out as well, and probably calls to action as well as we get closer to the September 30th date.

SPEAKER_01 9:39

And I think that's important because people really can't be involved in the legislative process, even if they're not necessarily getting on a plane and coming up and and sitting down with their member, pick up the phone, send an email, write a letter.

SPEAKER_00 9:50

Right. And yeah, that's the important thing. And especially as the voting season picks up, um, there will be a lot more, I think, calls to action because not only do these daughters uh daughters not only do these dollars support infrastructure and access, but um there's a significant portion that goes to the Coast Guard for boating safety programs and grants. Especially as summer picks up, the summer boating season is upon us.

SPEAKER_01 10:13

Voter registrations are up, more people are buying boaters, first-time voters are up, so we need to make sure that boating safety is always a part of that. Exactly. So that was your number one issue. What's what's a what's another

Army Corps Fees And Better Access

SPEAKER_01 10:23

issue?

SPEAKER_00 10:23

Number two, I mean, sticking with the access theme is a little bill called the Water Resources Development Act, uh, which is in fact the opposite. It is a very large water infrastructure bill that passes Congress every two years. Um, and it's to reauthorize programs and projects for the Army Corps of Engineers, which it's like, why do we care about that? And NMMA, we've gotten more involved in this process, I would say, over the past decade, where we've been doing a lot more work where WordA and Army Corps, a lot of the projects and funding were being directed towards commercial and of course, like ports, major channel dredging, et cetera. Um, but I think it, you know, coinciding with um, you know, more information getting out about the economic impact of the recreational boating industry um and the need for infrastructure and access needs for us, Army Corps plays a major part of that for recreational boating. And so this bill is being put together right now by the key committees. We have been pushing over the past couple of months our priorities for that, which can really be summed up in, I think, one line. We have four asks for the Army Corps, but it all relates to we want to modernize and align the Army Corps of Engineers with other federal agencies that manage recreational access.

SPEAKER_01 11:46

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 11:46

So these other federal agencies that manage recreational access, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, they all um have these modern needs where they're able to keep their recreation fees. When you go to a boat ramp and you pay a fee to get in at the Army Corps, Army Corps is only allowed to keep that until they receive their appropriations, and then they have to give that money that you gave them back to the general fund. We're asking, hey, Army Corps, be we want them to be able to keep that money, be able to reinvest in those boat ramps, in those different access uh projects that they have, just like other federal agencies are able to do. Army Corps is not able to do that right now. So we want to be able to do that so it improves infrastructure, it improves access to be able to get on the water.

SPEAKER_01 12:31

So once again, the boating industry is going and saying there there's a mechanism here and we're gonna help you and we'll help get it.

SPEAKER_00 12:38

We're already paying these fees. Right. Um, and it's just like anyone going, you know, to a national park site, et cetera. They're able to reinvest those fees at their national parks to make you know more entrances, more parking spots, etc. Uh, we want the Army Corps to be able to do the same.

SPEAKER_01 12:53

And again, I think it's still telling that story of the ecosystem. So many people still see boating as a hobby, not always as an industry. Exactly. And it is an industry that needs to be supported.

SPEAKER_00 13:02

It's exactly right. And that's like one of the things that we always say like when I go in and meet with a member of Congress or their staff for the first time, you know, they're always excited to see like the recreational boating industry. It's uh, you know, a little bit different and then it's fun. They think about you know being on the lake or out on the water with their friends and family on the weekend. Um, and I lead with that. And then it's like, but there's also a huge economy behind it. Um, we're a $230 billion economic driver. We have over 800,000 jobs that are supported by 36,000 businesses across the country. And so when you are able to share that story and those numbers with the congressional offices, and especially when you break it down for them by their individual state, sure, it's very eye-opening to them to understand there is a massive economy and job creator and supporter behind it.

SPEAKER_01 13:49

And I also think it's important that you're coming with a solution, you're coming with the the mechanism in order to correct it or to to make it better and join and combine resources. So I think that makes sense.

SPEAKER_00 14:00

Yeah, no one wants to always hear someone say no, no, no.

SPEAKER_01 14:03

Right, or come in and say, Well, we need a ton of money. Right. We don't know where you're gonna get it from, but we're really important. Instead, it's we're already paying the money again. Let's just siphon it into where it needs to go to be the most effective. Okay, so what's number three?

USMCA Renewal And Trade Certainty

SPEAKER_00 14:15

Um, I would say number three is you know, we're coming up on summer, which and it's kind of shifting gears from access and infrastructure, but it's just as important when it comes to industry and especially manufacturing and the cost is the renewal of the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, okay, which is up for joint renewal in um July. Okay, and so it's perfect timing again for all of our issues that we're working on to um be going to Congress to ask for them to renew the USMCA agreement. Um, we need to provide businesses with a little bit more certainty in an uncertain environment. And USMCA has um proven to be just that over the past six years of its implementation. Um, we've been strong supporters and pushing uh Congress and the administration over the past several months as there's been more opportunity to provide input on it of you know, supporting the renewal of USMCA, focus on enforcement, not renegotiation, and really improving and strengthening the relationship that we have with Canada. Because Canada, for us and the recreational boating industry, it's our top export market, represents about 40% of our entire exports go to Canada. Um, and there's about $800 million worth of exports from the US to Mexico and Canada, and that's just in boats and engines alone. So it's a very important agreement to us and that North American partnership and relationship. Um, and so that's why we've been calling upon Congress and the administration to focus on renewing that agreement, not renegotiating it.

SPEAKER_01 15:52

Is there a trend that they're they're trying to renegotiate versus renewing? Just let's just try to Well, certainly.

SPEAKER_00 15:59

I mean, I think you know, if you read the headlines, etc., there's you know obviously a lot going on, and people are you know positioning and negotiating um, sometimes in public. But um I think what you'll see is um, you know, there's a lot of um focus right now on bilateral discussions, which instead of it all just being US, Mexico, and Canada at one time, there's been a lot of conversations between US and Mexico, and then US and Canada, not all three together. But I think as we get closer and closer, it'll back up because there is such strong support not only from the recreational boating industry, but I was gonna say many industries and all industries and sectors. There's such an important partnership that we have with um Canada and Mexico that it's it's you know very important for not only the recreational boating industry, but our economy as a whole.

Tariffs And A Made-In-USA Industry

SPEAKER_01 16:47

Well, when in segueing to the economy, do do I dare ask? Should we talk about tariffs?

SPEAKER_00 16:52

Always happy to talk about it.

SPEAKER_01 16:54

We should. They are out there.

SPEAKER_00 16:56

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 16:57

Umpacts. What are some what are some um NMMA initiatives just to have that discussion, talk about it?

SPEAKER_00 17:04

There there has to be a tremendous impact to members and yeah, I mean, I I think you know, with tariffs and kind of you know what I was saying about USMCA, businesses want certainty, right? And um there have been a lot of uncertain moments when um with tariffs over the past year, and that's why we push for you know wanting agreements like USMCA or more um frameworks with the EU to provide more predictability and certainty for these businesses. Um but in MMA, we have been providing you know a lot of comments, a lot of feedback to the administration over the past year, um, since a lot of these tariff um mechanisms and measures have been implemented. Um in fact, I'm um this you know testifying on May 6th before um the US trade representative um as part of like different industries, but uh NMMA and the recreational marine industry will be represented by myself, um going up there to talk about um an invest an investigation that they are doing right now that could potentially lead to additional tariffs and so talking about the impact of it. Um but in those remarks I'll be you know reinforcing our support for USMCA, the importance of a partnership like this to combat um you know some of the issues that they are raising with this investigation in terms of like excess capacity and people dumping different products on the market, um, but why it's important that we have you know carefully cultivated supply chains across the world, not only with Mexico and Canada, um, but that our industry is uniquely American-made. 95% of all boats that are sold in the US are made right here. Um, but we do have a global supply chain just like anyone else does. Um, and so it's gonna be reinforcing a lot of those same and similar messages of um just like we were saying at the beginning, the economic impact across the country in different states. It is all um while the boats are made and made here in the US, it is a global supply chain that we work with. And so we're just reinforcing those messages to the administration. But we've certainly been active with it and trying to provide our members really with the resources and the information that they need to help navigate it. Um, we're certainly, you know, uh provided significant comments and feedback to the administration, but oftentimes, you know, our role is helping to provide them with the information necessary that they can have to help navigate this, um, provide them a little bit more certainty in an uncertain environment.

SPEAKER_01 19:40

And that's what I was gonna say, something you hit on originally when you were speaking about it. Um, as a small business, you know, tariffs has impacted me as well. And um I'm not opposed to them. I I get it from a from a position, it's just the uncertainty, it's how do we maneuver through it? How do we, and when it's a it's a constant changing. And so I appreciate you know, national marine manufacturers doing that, and MMA coming up with a balanced discussion. Let's talk about it, we get it, but let's mitigate the impact and or come up with something that is consistent that businesses can plan on. Right. We we we're all American, we're building American, we we want we want to um be strong and we want to um strengthen ourselves as a as a country and also our manufacturing, but we do, it does need to be consistent. So I I appreciate MMA finding that that balance to work on that. And again, I think it's something that once again, if you continue the relationship with your legislators, whether in the House or the Senate, talk to talk to them about how this impacts your business. They need to understand that in order to make these discussions and these decisions.

SPEAKER_00 20:42

Exactly. They're not gonna know unless you tell them. Okay, and you're gonna know the impact of your business better than anybody. And so I think it's important as you we were talking about throughout cultivating those relationships with your member of Congress, the policymakers and the staff, um, and to be able to share that story with them, they can help carry that message forward, whether it is on legislation but also with the administration as well.

SPEAKER_01 21:05

This is

E15 Fuel Risks And Clear Labeling

SPEAKER_01 21:06

a a question that I that I did not actually prepare you for, but is there a piece of legislation that that we oppose? Is there anything that's out there right now that we would encourage that this could be very um damaging? And it's okay if the answer is no. Um, that there's something you know that really could be impactful in a damaging way that we really need to be in opposition of.

SPEAKER_00 21:29

Um I think federally, um, which is really great if the answer is no. I just wanted to, I mean, that's what you know helps make the job a little bit easier, is like that's where we work with such a bipartisan group and have such strong relationships across the aisle. Um that is something like where we have a lot of input. Um, and as we like to say in DC, if you're not at the table, you're on the menu. I was just gonna say that um there are certain you know. know uh provision there is like one that is um where we're not necessarily opposed to it but like there is like a lot of interest and um in potential legislation coming up uh related to e15 okay wanting to expand access to that and our position has always been you know it's federally prohibited from being able to put in an engine you're gonna avoid a warranty if you put E-15 into your marine engine um and so what we do um is just try to provide a lot of education around it's like we need better labeling and we need better public education and awareness um to help combat that because we know that you know it is out there and it's been in you know uh but perhaps that's an unintended consequence I don't I don't know that anybody's looking at the recreational industry on that there's not we're not going after them right it's just an unintended consequence that's the thing and that's where part of like that advocacy role is the education part because they're not thinking about that or have any idea and you have to go in and explain to them well like hey understand what you're trying to do here but just a second um you need to understand the effects that this has on a 230 billion dollar industry across the country.

SPEAKER_01 23:08

Well and families all across this country who who are spending money and making choices to to be on the water and spend time with their family and doing that.

Right Whale Rule Fight And Solutions

SPEAKER_01 23:16

Absolutely can we can we talk about um NOAA and the and the right whale in that process um I find that to be so just I don't know if you want to provide a quick background on that but I think that that's one where unintended consequences came to center and now there's a working solution but I'd like for you to give an overview of that and that was a big undertaking of NMMA to really be the point on that.

SPEAKER_00 23:40

Absolutely um yeah so back in 2022 um NOAA came out with a proposed rule that would expand the existing uh vessel strike reduction rule um which basically is um 10 mile an hour speed limit up and down the Atlantic that was um uh established back in 2008 and um in certain areas up and down the coast and in 2022 and this was for vessels that are 65 feet and above and this is because of uh the North Atlantic right whale um and at the time um the population uh of that was um decreasing a bit and so in 2022 NOAA looked to expand that rule um and it wasn't just for certain pockets pockets up and down the Atlantic it was from central Florida all the way up to Massachusetts um from the beach to in some cases 100 miles offshore 10 knot speed limit for any vessel 35 feet in body hugely overreaching uh it was a vast expansion of that original 2008 rule um without any sort of input from the recreational boating industry or you know stakeholder groups um no accounting of the economic impact that that would have not on just the recreational boating industry but all of the marinas the bait and tackle shops the you know the entire ecosystem entire ecosystem up and down the coast and it wouldn't just be impacting the coast it would be impacting marine manufacturers inland sure inland yeah far away from the coast um and so that came about um in 2022 fast forward there were over 90 000 comments for this proposed rule okay um as you can imagine it created a mainly in opposition um don't know about it don't have like an exact breakdown of how the 90 000 we certainly you know provided um significant comments um for that but also data driven backed by science agree um to help try and correct the ref uh the record on that and thankfully the administration withdrew that rule um timeout how often does that happen that's a huge that is a huge um accomplishment and i want people to understand that that that is exactly Civics 101 this is how it works it's the relationships that NMMA members etc in the community have had with legislators talking about it bringing science together those are relationships as well protecting the waters creating and really getting an entire regulatory agency to to walk that back that does not happen yeah absolutely and so that's a huge accomplishment we advocated and it was you know especially working with strong partners um across the community and industry um helped you know sure get to that and but I think it in part it was like telling um you know this is going to and correcting the record for what the science actually says about this how a boat is actually constructed and that it doesn't have you know uh 40 foot depth or draft and you know correcting some of these things and and the economic impact that it has I think certainly helped and that's what I was going to also say the good news is that now you have science and industry working together to come up with real solutions right that will actually benefit the species and also not kill voting.

SPEAKER_01 27:14

Right. And so that's that's where it really should have started.

SPEAKER_00 27:16

And that's yeah and that has been our our position all along that there you know this rule came out originally in 2008 the technology has certainly improved and changed in you know nearly 20 years since that original 2008 rule. And so our position especially you know even going through the um the comments last go around in in 2022 to to 2024 was explaining that there is technology out there and that we are investing in it as an industry. This isn't just something that we're doing to react to the situation but it's something that we're proactively working on and going to continue working on even as they withdrew that rule we the industry and some of our uh you know certainly a lot of our members have been working on that still to this day and and as you mentioned as part of that um noah is undergoing a um review of the the original 2008 rule and looking for um information regarding that the technology that is out there um and you know what updates have been made etc and so we're certainly it was definitely a welcome um site to see and so we were certainly looking forward to um participating in that is there something that you would like um members or or delegates to mention to legislators about that as well or do you want that to be something that stay tuned will give you the I would say stay tuned because there will also be an opportunity um through our grassroots okay activations with votingunited.org um there will be opportunities to file comments um in the open comment period that is um open until June 2nd uh but there will be opportunities to file those comments through that um to show one that we can protect access we can invest in technology and also protect these marine mammals um out in the water so working together working together so stay tuned for more stay tuned for more well I hope this Congress and conference goes very well I know that you have plenty of speakers and um plenty of members that are going to be coming in and out and it's a very exciting time and like you said it's um with so much going on it's building those relationships um these are these are issues that are so important to the communities so important to all your members but the voting industry in general and so I appreciate you sharing them all with us and um hopefully people will be getting engaged and also we will put it out there so people can support even if they weren't having the opportunity to be here.

How To Help And Final Thanks

SPEAKER_00 29:44

Really appreciate the opportunity for this and you know having you all here as well and I you know I think for folks these are industry representatives and leaders who have their day job right and so taking the time to come to Washington DC to tell their story to be able to share the message on this is deeply appreciated but also has such a huge impact um for the three days of work that they come and and deliver here. And so we certainly appreciate it and the opportunity to to speak with you today.

SPEAKER_01 30:13

Well we look forward to doing a follow-up because I do want to hear about how all of these things have gone through and we're we're definitely not waiting until next we're not waiting until next ABC but by the way ABC is always the first week in May and so we'd like to encourage as many people as possible to come to this event and support it. Thank you we appreciate that thank you for the opportunity thanks for joining us make sure you subscribe to the Wardway podcast which is getting started