History
The Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Federal
financial assistance program was first established by the
Federal Boat Safety Act (FBSA) of 1971 to "encourage
greater State participation and uniformity in boating safety
efforts, and particularly to permit the States to assume the
greater share of boating safety education, assistance, and
enforcement activities" (46 U.S.C. 13101). The Secretary
of Transportation delegated administration of the program
to the U.S. Coast Guard. Funding for the grants was provided
from general revenue through the Coast Guard's Operating Expenses
(OE) appropriations.
Grant Program Renewed
Authorization for the RBS grant program
expired in 1979, but was reestablished by the Recreational
Boating Safety and Facilities Improvement Act of 1980 (the
Biaggi Act). The Biaggi Act also provided that a portion of
Federal excise tax receipts attributable to motorboat fuel
use would be transferred from the Highway Trust Fund to a
new Recreational Boating Safety fund to provide monies for
the program. In utilizing the fuel taxes being paid by boaters,
the Biaggi Act ensured that those receiving the benefits of
the program would also pay the costs. The first appropriations
under this new mechanism were approved in 1982.
Additional Funding Approved
The Aquatic Resources (Wallop-Breaux) Trust
Fund was established in the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984
to improve funding to the States for the RBS program administered
by the Coast Guard and the Sport Fish Restoration program
administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The legislation
provided that the two separate funds for those programs would
become individual accounts under the single umbrella of the
new Wallop-Breaux fund. Trust fund receipts consist of Federal
excise taxes attributable to motorboat and small-engine fuel
use and on sport fishing equipment, along with import duties
on fishing equipment, yachts and pleasure craft. The Boat
Safety Account is funded solely from motorboat fuel taxes.
The Sport Fish Restoration Account receives a portion of the
motorboat fuel tax as well as all other trust fund receipts.
The State grant programs funded through Wallop-Breaux are
excellent examples of "user pays/user benefits"
since all monies deposited into the trust fund are paid by
boaters and fishermen. No general tax revenues are involved.
The financial assistance provided to the
States through Wallop-Breaux has contributed significantly
to the States' ability to assume an increasingly larger share
of responsibility for RBS program activities, as envisioned
by FBSA of 1971, and is critical to the continued success
of the State RBS programs.
Results of Program
The Coast Guard/State cooperative effort
in recreational boating safety is an outstanding example of
the ability of government at all levels to work together for
the benefit of the public and has directly resulted in safer
boating for millions of Americans. This is evidenced by the
fact that the number of reported recreational boating fatalities
has been reduced from a high of 1,754 in 1973 to about 800
per year. During the same period, the number of boats owned
by Americans more than doubled.
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