Congress Must Advance WRDA to Protect Boating Access and Strengthen Recreational Infrastructure
Access to public waterways is the foundation of recreational boating in America. It fuels participation, supports conservation, and sustains local economies in communities across all 50 states. As Congress continues working on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026, the recreational boating industry is urging lawmakers to move forward with a bill that protects and expands access to our nation’s waterways.
Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing to examine WRDA 2026 and other ongoing U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) projects, programs and priorities. Yesterday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held its own hearing on the topic. These hearings mark an important step in advancing legislation that directly impacts boating access, navigable waterways, and recreational infrastructure nationwide.
Recreational boating generates $230 billion in annual economic impact and supports more than 812,000 American jobs across 36,000 businesses. Ninety-five percent of boats sold in the United States are made in the United States, and 93 percent of boat builders are small businesses. When Congress invests in access and infrastructure, it strengthens American manufacturing, small businesses and coastal and inland communities that rely on boating and fishing.
USACE recreation sites are among the nation’s leading providers of public boating access. With roughly 260 million visits annually, Corps-managed waters play a critical role in connecting families to the outdoors. Aging docks, limited boat ramp parking, deferred maintenance and outdated lease structures are increasingly limiting safe and reliable access.
WRDA reauthorization presents an opportunity to modernize these policies and ensure federal recreation sites can keep pace with demand.
NMMA’s WRDA priorities focus on practical, commonsense solutions:
- Fix recreation fee retention by restoring the original intent of the LAKES Act so that retained fees supplement — not supplant — annual appropriations, allowing USACE to reinvest in facilities consistently and predictably.
- Align USACE recreation data standards with other federal land and water agencies to improve consistency in access policies and fishing restrictions.
- Modernize USACE lease terms to encourage long-term private investment in marina infrastructure through performance-based leases tied to environmental stewardship and reinvestment.
- Streamline approvals for marina improvements by creating a tiered review process that allows routine subleases and minor upgrades to move forward within 30 days when clear criteria are met.
These reforms are about ensuring that marine businesses can invest in their facilities to quickly respond to their communities’ needs and Americans are not locked out of public waters due to outdated policies or aging infrastructure.
Boaters already contribute to conservation and infrastructure through user-funded programs such as the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. The WRDA complements these investments by strengthening federal water infrastructure and improving access at Corps-managed waters.
As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, Congress has an opportunity to honor America’s legacy of public lands and waterways by advancing policies that protect access for future generations. Communities along rivers, lakes, harbors and coastlines depend on recreational boating to drive tourism, support small businesses and create jobs.
NMMA looks forward to working with the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and leaders in both chambers to advance a strong, bipartisan WRDA reauthorization that protects boating access, strengthens infrastructure and supports American manufacturing.