Transportation Equity Act (TEA21)

Under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA21), the Boat Safety Account continues to be authorized up to $70 million per year in motorboat fuel taxes, subject to appropriation by Congress, for grants to assist participating states with funding for their Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) programs. In addition to the discretionary funds available through the Boat Safety Account, the Clean Vessel Act of 1992, also reauthorized by TEA21, provides mandatory funding for the State RBS grant program from the Sport Fish Restoration Account (funds are transferred by the Fish and Wildlife Service to the Coast Guard).

Under TEA21, eligible states are guaranteed $59 million as a minimum level of annual funding, and may receive as much as $71.6 million. In addition, the Coast Guard is provided $5 million per year of mandatory funding to be used to increase its own RBS Program coordination efforts.