About once every generation an issue is discussed that has the potential to do irreparable harm to boating. For the past year and a half MRAA has worked with a strong boating and fishing coalition to reverse a judicial decision which would have caused boaters to pay a fine of up to $1,000 each year in every state the boat operates if they discharged gray water without the proper permits. Three legislators have been instrumental in the passage of S.2766.

The Marine Retailers Association of America announced that U. S. Senator Bill Nelson of Florida and U.S. Representatives James Oberstar of Minnesota and Steven LaTourette of Ohio received the MRAA Legislative Awards for 2008. These awards were presented at the annual luncheon at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas on November 18, 2008.

“MRAA is proud to honor these three members of Congress for their outstanding support of Marine retailing and for their hard work to pass S.2766, The Clean Boating Act of 2008”, said Phil Keeter, MRAA President.