An Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, with two accounts—a Sport Fish Restoration Account and a Boat Safety Account—was created in 1984 and subsequently amended to support a variety of programs administered by three federal agencies, including wetlands management, recreational vessel docking and sewage disposal infrastructure, and aquatic resource education. In 2005, the Boat Safety Account was terminated and remaining programs were consolidated into a renamed Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. This report details sources of funding for this trust fund and summarizes the various programs and activities receiving funding.
The five sources of income to the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund are (1) the portion of federal fuel taxes attributable to motorboat fuel from the Highway Trust Fund; (2) annual tax receipts attributable to small engine fuel used for outdoor power equipment from the Highway Trust Fund; (3) annual receipts from a manufacturers’ excise tax on sport fishing equipment; (4) annual receipts from import duties on fishing tackle and on yachts and pleasure craft; and (5) interest on funds invested prior to disbursal. Total FY2008 income from these five sources was approximately 708million.TheeighteffortsfundedfromtheSportFishRestorationandBoatingTrustFundare(1)threecoastalwetlandsconservationandrestorationprograms;(2)recreationalboatingsafety;(3)constructionofsewagepump−outanddumpstationsforrecreationalvesselsewagedisposal;(4)constructionofdockingfacilitiesforlargetransientrecreationalvessels;(5)nationalaquaticresourceoutreachandcommunications;(6)multi−stateconservationgrants;(7)interstatefisherycommissionsandtheSportFishingandBoatingPartnershipCouncil;and(8)stategrantsforsportfishrestorationprojects.ProposalsunderdiscussionbyCongressforreauthorizingfederalsurfacetransportationprograms,requiredbytheendofFY2009,includeanincrease(possiblymorethandoubling)ofthe18.4cents−per−gallonfederalfueltaxtobetterfundhighwayinfrastructureprogramsthroughtheHighwayTrustFund.The111thCongressmaydecidewhethertheSportFishRestorationandBoatingTrustFundreceivessubstantialbenefits(possiblyexceedinganadditional350 million annually) from an increase in the federal fuel tax. A corollary set of questions focuses on whether, and if so how, the various programs supported by the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund might be modified to expend increased receipts, should a federal fuel tax increase be enacted