MIBowhunter
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State fisheries could benefit from Wallop-Breaux reauthorization
By Shawn Perich
Staff Writer
Washington, D.C. — Michigan could be eligible for an additional $3.7 million in federal funds for fisheries and boating under the reauthorization of the Wallop-Breaux Program passed by the Senate last week. Part of a much larger transportation bill known as Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA) of 2004, the new Wallop-Breaux monies would come from a redirection of small engine fuel tax revenues that is projected to generate an additional $110 million annually for the program.
“This could be very significant for state fisheries programs,” says Janet Tennyson, communications director for the American Sportfishing Association (ASA).
Wallop-Breaux is primarily funded by excise taxes on fishing tackle and a distribution of boat fuel taxes, generating about $450 million annually. The money is allocated to the states as a reimbursement for fish management and boating expenditures. The Michigan DNR’s Fisheries Division received $8.7 million last year from Wallop-Breaux, which is close to 35 percent of the division’s annual budget.
Wallop-Breaux was passed by Congress in 1984 as an expansion of the Dingell-Johnson program that began in 1950.
The program must be reauthorized every six years, and the last reauthorization occurred in 1998. Gordon Robertson, vice president of the ASA, says angling and boating advocates have formed a coalition comprised of 34 organizations working to pass Wallop-Breaux. Recovering fuel tax revenues, a portion of which Congress diverted to other purposes several years ago, is a priority on its agenda.
While Congress is under pressure to pass the transportation bill, shepherding Wallop-Breaux through the legislative process is no small task. Tennyson says the reauthorization passed through three committees prior to reaching the Senate floor. It has not yet reached a vote in the House.
“The Senate passage was a significant hurdle,” Tennyson says. Other changes in the bill include measures that were agreed upon by the coalition, such as equitable distribution of new revenues among fishing and boating programs, and changes to boating safety funding that are intended to make better use of the money. About $60 million will be directed to the Water Works Wonders program, a national publicity campaign that promotes fishing and boating through the mainstream media.
Robertson says the ASA did not take a position on changes brought forward by fishing tackle manufacturers, including the elimination of the 3 percent excise tax on fish flashers using LED technology (more common LCD fish finders have never paid a tax), a tax reduction for aerated portable bait buckets (also used by aquariasts, researchers, and fish growers), and a cap of $10 on the excise tax for U.S. manufactured fishing rods (on top-shelf, American-made fly rods, taxes reach $60, making it difficult to compete with foreign products).
If the coalition is successful in redirecting the small engine fuel taxes, Wallop-Breaux will grow from $450 million to $560 million annually.
Michigan’s share of the new monies will be a tremendous boon for the state’s fishing and boating programs, according to Jim Dexter, acting chief of the DNR’s Fisheries Division. Of the $3.7 million, Fisheries would receive 85 percent, and the Parks and Recreation Division would receive 15 percent for use on boating.
“Wallop Breaux funds are extremely important,” Dexter said. “Our current allocation (for Fisheries) is split pretty evenly between our hatchery program and for research.
“An additional $3.7 million would be an incredible amount. That’s a 30-percent increase in what we get now. It would be a huge shot in the arm.”
By Shawn Perich
Staff Writer
Washington, D.C. — Michigan could be eligible for an additional $3.7 million in federal funds for fisheries and boating under the reauthorization of the Wallop-Breaux Program passed by the Senate last week. Part of a much larger transportation bill known as Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act (SAFETEA) of 2004, the new Wallop-Breaux monies would come from a redirection of small engine fuel tax revenues that is projected to generate an additional $110 million annually for the program.
“This could be very significant for state fisheries programs,” says Janet Tennyson, communications director for the American Sportfishing Association (ASA).
Wallop-Breaux is primarily funded by excise taxes on fishing tackle and a distribution of boat fuel taxes, generating about $450 million annually. The money is allocated to the states as a reimbursement for fish management and boating expenditures. The Michigan DNR’s Fisheries Division received $8.7 million last year from Wallop-Breaux, which is close to 35 percent of the division’s annual budget.
Wallop-Breaux was passed by Congress in 1984 as an expansion of the Dingell-Johnson program that began in 1950.
The program must be reauthorized every six years, and the last reauthorization occurred in 1998. Gordon Robertson, vice president of the ASA, says angling and boating advocates have formed a coalition comprised of 34 organizations working to pass Wallop-Breaux. Recovering fuel tax revenues, a portion of which Congress diverted to other purposes several years ago, is a priority on its agenda.
While Congress is under pressure to pass the transportation bill, shepherding Wallop-Breaux through the legislative process is no small task. Tennyson says the reauthorization passed through three committees prior to reaching the Senate floor. It has not yet reached a vote in the House.
“The Senate passage was a significant hurdle,” Tennyson says. Other changes in the bill include measures that were agreed upon by the coalition, such as equitable distribution of new revenues among fishing and boating programs, and changes to boating safety funding that are intended to make better use of the money. About $60 million will be directed to the Water Works Wonders program, a national publicity campaign that promotes fishing and boating through the mainstream media.
Robertson says the ASA did not take a position on changes brought forward by fishing tackle manufacturers, including the elimination of the 3 percent excise tax on fish flashers using LED technology (more common LCD fish finders have never paid a tax), a tax reduction for aerated portable bait buckets (also used by aquariasts, researchers, and fish growers), and a cap of $10 on the excise tax for U.S. manufactured fishing rods (on top-shelf, American-made fly rods, taxes reach $60, making it difficult to compete with foreign products).
If the coalition is successful in redirecting the small engine fuel taxes, Wallop-Breaux will grow from $450 million to $560 million annually.
Michigan’s share of the new monies will be a tremendous boon for the state’s fishing and boating programs, according to Jim Dexter, acting chief of the DNR’s Fisheries Division. Of the $3.7 million, Fisheries would receive 85 percent, and the Parks and Recreation Division would receive 15 percent for use on boating.
“Wallop Breaux funds are extremely important,” Dexter said. “Our current allocation (for Fisheries) is split pretty evenly between our hatchery program and for research.
“An additional $3.7 million would be an incredible amount. That’s a 30-percent increase in what we get now. It would be a huge shot in the arm.”
