Sport Fish Restoration and Recreational Boating Safety Act of 2019
This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund which provides funding for several things, including fisheries conservation and management, water and boating infrastructure, and recreational boating safety.
The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on (1) the increasing use of nonmotorized vessels and their impacts on motorized and nonmotorized vessel access, (2) user conflicts at waterway access points, (3) the use of Sport Fish Restoration Program funds to improve nonmotorized vessel access and the reasons for providing such access, and (4) the use of Recreational Boating Safety Program funds for nonmotorized boating safety programs.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4828 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4828
To amend the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act with respect to
sport fish restoration and recreational boating safety, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 23, 2019
Mr. Cunningham (for himself, Mr. Graves of Louisiana, Mr. Austin Scott
of Georgia, Mr. Veasey, and Mrs. Dingell) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in
addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act with respect to
sport fish restoration and recreational boating safety, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Sport Fish Restoration and
Recreational Boating Safety Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
(Trust Fund) was established in 1950 to provide dedicated
funding for aquatic conservation and boating safety.
(2) The Trust Fund is a user fee-public benefit system
funded through motorboat fuel tax receipts, import duties, and
excise taxes on small engines, fishing equipment, and electric
motors.
(3) The Trust Fund provides nearly $650 million annually
for recreational infrastructure projects, coastal wetlands
restoration, and boating safety and conservation programs in
all 50 States.
(4) Since 2010, more than 28,000 acres of habitats have
been restored and improved throughout coastal wetland
ecosystems--which not only serve a critical role in
conservation but provide a significant economic impact to
coastal communities.
(5) The recreational boating and angling community, as well
as State agencies, recognize the significant increase in the
use of non-motorized, human-propelled vessels in recent years.
Growth of the human-propelled vessel community has required
United States Coast Guard and State agencies to use significant
resources to address human-propelled infrastructure, boating
safety, law enforcement, and search and rescue needs, all of
which is paid for by the Trust Fund.
SEC. 3. DIVISION OF ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--Section 4 of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish
Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777c) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``2021'' and inserting
``2024'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``2021'' and inserting ``2024''; and
(ii) by amending subparagraph (B) to read
as follows--
``(B) Available amounts.--The available amount
referred to in subparagraph (A) is--
``(i) for fiscal year 2020, $12,671,235;
and
``(ii) for fiscal year 2021 and each fiscal
year thereafter, the sum of--
``(I) the available amount for the
preceding fiscal year; and
``(II) the amount determined by
multiplying--
``(aa) the available amount
for the preceding fiscal year;
and
``(bb) the change, relative
to the preceding fiscal year,
in the Consumer Price Index for
All Urban Consumers published
by the Department of Labor.'';
and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``2016
through 2021'' and inserting ``2020 through
2024''; and
(ii) by amending subparagraph (B) to read
as follows--
``(B) Available amounts.--The available amount
referred to in subparagraph (A) is--
``(i) for fiscal year 2020, $8,339,466; and
``(ii) for fiscal year 2021 and each fiscal
year thereafter, the sum of--
``(I) the available amount for the
preceding fiscal year; and
``(II) the amount determined by
multiplying--
``(aa) the available amount
for the preceding fiscal year;
and
``(bb) the change, relative
to the preceding fiscal year,
in the Consumer Price Index for
All Urban Consumers published
by the Department of Labor.'';
and
(3) in subsection (e)(2), by striking ``$900,000'' and
inserting ``$1,300,000''.
(b) Administration.--Section 9(a) of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish
Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777h(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``on a full-time basis'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``on a part-time basis
for at least 20 hours each week'';
(3) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking ``full-time
equivalent''; and
(4) in paragraph (9)(A), by striking ``on a full-time
basis''.
(c) Other Activities.--Section 14(e) of the Dingell-Johnson Sport
Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777m) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(3) A portion, as determined by the Sport Fishing and
Boating Partnership Council, of funds disbursed for the
purposes described in paragraph (2) but remaining unobligated
prior to fiscal year 2020 shall be used to study the impact of
derelict vessels and identify recyclable solutions for
recreational vessels.''.
SEC. 4. RECREATIONAL BOATING ACCESS.
The United States Comptroller General shall, not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, submit a report to the Sport
Fishing and Boating Partnership Council, the Committees on Natural
Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of
Representatives, and the Committees on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and Environment and Public Works of the Senate. The
United States Comptroller General shall consult with the Sport Fishing
and Boating Partnership Council and the National Boating Safety
Advisory Council on study design, scope, and priorities. To the extent
practicable, given data available, the report shall document--
(1) the use of non-motorized vessels in each State and how
the increased use of non-motorized vessels is impacting
motorized and non-motorized vessel access;
(2) user conflicts at waterway access points; and
(3) the use of Sport Fish Restoration Program funds to
improve non-motorized access at waterway entry points and the
reasons for providing such access, and Recreational Boating
Safety Program funds for non-motorized boating safety programs.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
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