Issues of 2008-2009

MRAA has long represented the interests and concerns of marine retailers to other trade associations and boater member organizations, the many agencies and departments of the U.S. government, and the U.S. Congress. MRAA believes interaction with these groups is vital to the well being of marine retailing.

MRAA also works closely when asked by local dealers and state marine trades associations on state issues, such as dealer manufacturer agreements, state luxury taxes, increases to state user fees on boats, State Sales Taxes, etc.

Examples of issues addressed in the past two years include:

• Successful Expansion of SBA 7(a) Loan Program for Floor Plan Financing
• Support of SBA Capital Recovery Loan Program for Dealers and Marinas
• Support of U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Loans for Dealers
• Support of SBA 504 Loans for Capital Expansion of Dealers and Marinas
• Support of SBA Patriot Express Loan initiative for Dealers and Marinas
• Successful Expansion of Term Asset-Backed Securities Lending Facility (TALF) for Dealer Floor Plan Financing
• Successful Passage of Net Operating Loss Carryback
• Continued watch of Attempts to Increase CAFÉ
• Successful Negotiation of Additional Funds for Wallop-Breaux Programs of Outreach, Clean Marine Programs, and Boating Safety
• Support of Additional Federal Funds for Water Resources Development Act
• Support of Tax Incentives for Boating Industry, ie., Sales Tax deduction, permanent repeal of Estate Tax, Boating Safety Equipment
• Support of Additional Federal Funding for Atlantic Intra-Coastal Waterway
• Successful Implementation of Marketing Strategy of Coast Guard Office of Recreational Boating Safety Strategic Plan
• Successful Implementation of NTSB Life Jacket Recommendations and Other Boating Safety Issues
• Participation in Coast Guard Summit on Homeland Security
• Opposition to E15 Ethanol Standards
• Support of Efforts to Study Effects of Increasing Ethanol Blends on Marine Engines
• Successful Addition of Federal Funds for Dredging
• Successful Opposition to Bureau of Reclamation Proposal to Prohibit Boating on Lakes
• Continued Watch of Environmental Issues Often Proffered by the USEPA
• Opposed Congressional Efforts to Mandate Health Care and Worked with U.S. Senate to Increase the Exemption for Small Business from 35 to 50 Employees
• Helped to Create the Start Over Coalition of Small Business Organizations on Health Care (The Creation Made Front Page of ROLL CALL, the Newspaper of Capitol Hill
• Support H.R. 2548, Keep America’s Waterfronts Working Act