Member
Posts: 2567
Location: Manitowoc, WI | $110 mil more 8/10/2005
Today, President Bush signed the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. The act, originally passed by the House and Senate on Fri., Aug. 29, includes a provision that will have a major impact on angling.
The Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act was originally established in 1950, but was amended in 1984 to include motorboat-fuel taxes and small-engine taxes. This 1984 amendment created the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, also known as the Wallop-Breaux Trust Fund, named after the two sponsors of the amendment.
The Wallop-Breaux excise tax on motorboat fuel was to be reinvested in fishing and boating improvement activities. But previously, only 13.5 cents of the 18.3-cent tax made its way back to fishing and boating. Since the final 4.8 cents will now be added to the Trust Fund, that means an additional $110 million annually will be earmarked for fishing and boating.
The Trust funds are allocated to state fish and wildlife agencies for fisheries management and boating safety, and the act is seen as a major victory for fishing and boating.
"BASS Conservation has been very active with the American Sportfishing Association, angler groups, BASS founder Ray Scott, the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and others in working to ensure passage of this important provision," said BASS conservation director Noreen Clough.
"We will gladly put that nickel back into our pockets," said Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation president Jeff Crane. "Without a doubt this was a group effort with the American Sportfishing Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association and the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, along with many others. We owe a debt of gratitude to Congressmen Don Young and Clay Shaw, and Senators Inhofe, Lott and Baucus, who led the charge and stood up for anglers in a big way."
Edited by jerry 8/11/2005 11:24 AM
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