Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Sport Fish Restoration and Recreational Boating Safety Act of 2019”.
Sport Fish Restoration and Recreational Boating Safety Act of 2019
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.
Sec. 2 Findings
Findings— The Congress finds the following:
The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (Trust Fund) was established in 1950 to provide dedicated funding for aquatic conservation and boating safety.
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.
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.
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.
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
In general— Section 4 of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777c) is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking “2021” and inserting “2024”;
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (1)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking “2021” and inserting “2024”; and
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.”
in paragraph (2)—
in subparagraph (A), by striking “2016 through 2021” and inserting “2020 through 2024”; and
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.”
in subsection (e)(2), by striking “$900,000” and inserting “$1,300,000”.
Administration— Section 9(a) of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777h(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (1), by striking “on a full-time basis”;
in paragraph (2), by striking “on a part-time basis for at least 20 hours each week”;
in paragraph (5)(B), by striking “full-time equivalent”; and
in paragraph (9)(A), by striking “on a full-time basis”.
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—
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;
user conflicts at waterway access points; and
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.