Coast Guard reauthorization bill includes industry concerns

The U.S. House of Representatives last week passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2019. H.R. 3049 includes language that would mandate the use of engine cutoff devices for boats smaller than than 26 feet when underway, a measure that law enforcement, manufacturers and the boating community support.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association, which worked on the legislation, said in a statement that the reauthorization “builds upon the important steps taken last year when Congress required manufacturers to install these devices in most boats under 26 feet, something many boat manufacturers have been doing for years.”

The bill also would grant the Coast Guard “equivalency” authority, allowing it to streamline approval of boating industry construction standards and new technologies. Additionally, the legislation would ensure that Coast Guard personnel would continue to be paid in the event of a government shutdown.

The NMMA said it will continue to monitor the progress of the bill in the senate.