Government Affairs

BoatUS Government Affairs advocates on behalf of recreational boat owners on Capitol Hill and before the federal agencies in Washington. These articles capture the advocacy work our team conducts, and brings attention to new boating and fishing laws on the horizon that could affect all boaters.

Government Agencies: The Quiet Professionals

What do government agencies actually accomplish for boaters? Here’s an inside look at how they keep us safe and our waterways clean – and why we need them to be experts in their fields

Big Return On Boater Taxes & Fees

Federal infrastructure grants help build hundreds of new transient slips and berths, and thousands of linear feet of side-tie docking space each year

Cruisers Caught In Florida Anchoring Ban

BoatU.S. argues that a more sensible solution lies in better enforcement of laws already on the books, not redundant laws that create unfair restrictions for responsible boat owners

Strength in Big Numbers

BoatU.S. partners with other outdoor recreational groups, from archery to mountain climbing, in lobbying legislators to support a collective trillion-dollar industry

For Safer Waters, We Need Smarter Boaters

As more states establish mandatory boater education laws, BoatU.S. continues to urge all 50 states to establish boater education certification programs for skippers

Driving Change For Boaters On A Local Level

The BoatU.S. Action Center website is a DIY guide to help members break through government bureaucracy to tackle problems on local waters

Alternative Marine Fuels

A new range of ethanol-free fuels, tested by the NMMA with good results, may reduce your boat’s emissions. Let’s look a little deeper.

A Whale Of A Fight

A $5 million appropriation for near real-time tracking of endangered North American right whales was the top priority a coalition of boating interests.

The Recreational Boaters of California: Advocates since 1968

California ranks 4th when it comes to registered boats among our 50 states. Luckily Golden State boaters have a strong voice thanks to their regional advocacy group, a BoatU.S. partner.