This month, Congressman Dave Joyce announced that he has introduced H.Res.175, a bipartisan resolution that designates the week of June 1, 2019 through June 9, 2019 as National Fishing and Boating Week, alongside his colleagues Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Lois Frankel (FL-21) and Jackie Walorski (IN-02).
“My favorite summer pastime is being out on a boat on Lake Erie, fishing and spending quality time on the water with family and friends,”said Dave. “It’s a tradition I’ve held onto since my childhood and now share with my own children. I’m proud to introduce this resolution to recognize the joy the Great Lakes bring to families across the country and the industries that help support the economic powerhouse and natural resource that is the Great Lakes system.”
In total, more than 141 million Americans go boating each year. The recreational boating industry contributes $170.3 billion to the U.S. economy, supports over 35,000 businesses and 691,000 jobs. Additionally, those who recreationally boat contribute $600 million in excise taxes annually to the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which funds habitat conservation and restoration efforts, preserving our treasured natural resources for future generations to come.
“We thank Representative David Joyce for championing a resolution that recognizes exactly what the recreational boating and fishing community represents – a significant part of our national economy and the country’s foremost conservationists,”said Nicole Vasilaros, senior vice president of government relations and legal affairs for the National Marine Manufacturers Association.“We look forward to working with him and his colleagues on additional issues that advance our industry.”
The sport fishing industry also supports the economy of the Great Lakes region, contributing nearly $4 billion each year. That’s another reason why Dave consistently fights to protect the Great Lakes from invasive species like Asian Carp, which have the potential to devastate not only the Great Lakes ecosystem but also the sport fishery industry and the regional economy it supports.