Article

Long-time boating industry supporter Senator John Breaux (D-LA) and Sen. Fred Thompson (R-TN) have established a boating caucus in the United States Senate. The two senators will co-chair the new caucus. This is the first boating caucus in the Senate. One has been active in the House since 1989, and today consists of about 90 members. The caucus is set up to be a bipartisan group focused on issues affecting boating, recreation and the marine industry. Its members support protection of the environment, promotion of international trade and the protection of access rights to the national waterways. “Senator Breaux is a true champion of the boating industry. He was instrumental in repealing the infamous luxury tax in the early 1990s and then repealed the dyed diesel fuel tax boaters were paying at the pumps. While a member of the House, he teamed up with Senator Malcolm Wallop to create what is now the Wallop/Breaux Trust Fund, which funds boating safety programs and fishing activities,” says Kelly Rote-Bobek, NMMA director of Government Relations. Breaux is also an avid supporter of boating safety, and was recently recognized with the National Safe Boating Council’s 2000 Boating Safety Hall of Fame Award. “An important priority for the Senate Boating Caucus will be to increase public awareness of the need for boating safety so enjoyable recreational experiences don’t end in tragedy,” says Breaux. Thompson began his senatorial career in 1994, and currently sits on the Senate Finance Committee and the International Trade Subcommittee. Thompson has worked diligently to promote equitable international trade for U.S. manufacturers, which has benefited the boating industry. “The boating industry is critically important to Tennessee, both because of our many rivers and lakes, and because of the many boating manufacturers located there. I look forward to working with Senator Breaux and the other members of the Senate Boating Caucus to promote issues important to boaters and the recreational boating industry.” NMMA is asking the public to ask their senators to join the Senate Boating Caucus. For information, contact Rote-Bobek in NMMA’s Washington, DC office at (202) 721-1608; [email protected]