Sport Fish Restoration and Recreational Boating Safety Act

Bill: 114-s-834
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD]
Introduced: 2015-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Advisory bodies
Appropriations
Coast guard
Congressional oversight
Department of Homeland Security
Executive agency funding and structure
Government studies and investigations
Government trust funds
Hunting and fishing
Louisiana
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine and inland water transportation
Outdoor recreation
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security
Water quality
Wetlands
Wildlife conservation and habitat protection

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: 

Sport Fish Restoration and Recreational Boating Safety Act

 
This bill amends the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act to establish the formula for allocating through FY2023 appropriations from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund.
 
The formula increases the allocation for coastal wetlands planning, protection, and restoration while decreasing the allocation for boating safety. It also limits funding that may be used under the Clean Vessel Act for capital improvement and infrastructure projects to support facilities that meet state requirements for minimizing the introduction of pollutants into waterways.
 
The formula and requirements for allocating funds for administrative expenses are modified. 
 
 Amounts are set aside through FY2023 for recreational boating safety personnel and activities, the National Boating Safety Advisory Council, boating safety activities of national nonprofit public service organizations, and the National Recreational Boating Survey.
 
 The bill revokes a limitation on the amount the Coast Guard is authorized to allocate for national boating safety activities of national nonprofit public service organizations.
 
The advisory council is extended through FY2023.

action_date: 2015-07-23
text: 

Sport Fish Restoration and Recreational Boating Safety Act

 
(Sec. 3) This bill amends the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act to reauthorize the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund through FY2023.
 
The bill revises the formula used to distribute funds from the trust fund. Amounts are set aside through FY2023 for Coast Guard recreational boating safety personnel and activities and the National Recreational Boating Survey.
 
(Sec. 4) The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend trust fund transfer restriction exceptions until October 1, 2023.
 
(Sec. 5) The bill revokes a limitation on the amount the Coast Guard is authorized to allocate for national boating safety activities of national nonprofit public service organizations.
 
(Sec. 7) The National Boating Safety Advisory Council is extended through FY2023.
 
(Sec. 8) The bill amends the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act to require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to report on the effectiveness of coastal wetlands restoration projects in improving the quality of fish and wildlife habitat conditions in Louisiana.
 
(Sec. 9) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must evaluate and report its administrative services for the trust fund each year.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-23
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 162.
action_date: 2015-07-23
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-91.
action_date: 2015-07-23
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-91.
action_date: 2015-03-25
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2015-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate