S. 1995: Sport Fish Restoration and Recreational Boating Safety Act of 2021

117th Congress

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.

Sponsor: Sen. Maria Cantwell — D — WA

Changes how the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) spends and distributes amounts in the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report to the Congress on the use of nonmotorized vessels in state waterways. Under current law, sales and excise taxes on motorboat fuel and on sportfishing equipment are deposited each year into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. Similarly, excise taxes on certain firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment are deposited each year into the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund. Amounts in both funds can be spent by USFWS without further appropriation. For the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, the bill extends through 2026 a requirement that USFWS must spend about 42 percent of amounts in the fund (after adjusting for administrative costs) on specific activities. For the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Fund, S. 1995 increases the amount the agency can spend on its administrative costs and expand the allowable uses for those funds.

View the full vote history of this bill on GovTrack.us.