[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 15, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H5010-H5012]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PROMOTING NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 386) recognizing the Coast Guard, the Coast 
Guard Auxiliary, and the National Safe Boating Council for their 
efforts to promote National Safe Boating Week, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 386

       Whereas recreational boating is one of our Nation's most 
     popular pastimes, with an estimated 78,000,000 recreational 
     boaters in the United States and nearly 13,000,000 
     recreational vessels registered;
       Whereas the number of recreational boating fatalities has 
     declined by more than half since 1970, thanks to the 
     increased use of life jackets, cooperative boating safety 
     education, enforcement efforts between the Coast Guard and 
     State governments, and safer vessels and equipment 
     manufactured in accordance with Coast Guard standards;
       Whereas recreational boating accidents have nevertheless 
     claimed the lives of 697 Americans in 2005, more than half of 
     whose lives could have been saved with the proper use of a 
     personal flotation device;
       Whereas a continued emphasis on accident prevention can 
     reduce recreational boating fatalities still further, and in 
     particular deaths by drowning, which remain the leading cause 
     of recreational boating fatalities; and
       Whereas boating safety organizations, with the support of 
     the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary, have proposed 
     designating the week of May 19 through 25, 2007, as National 
     Safe Boating Week: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports initiatives for recreational boating safety 
     education and accident prevention to minimize the number of 
     annual recreational boating fatalities;
       (2) recognizes the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, 
     and other boating safety organizations for their efforts each 
     year during May to highlight the importance of safe 
     recreational boating; and
       (3) supports the goals of National Safe Boating Week.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Cummings) and the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Drake) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Res. 386.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and 
Maritime Transportation, I rise today in support of H. Res. 386, as 
amended.
  This resolution recognizes the goals of National Safe Boating Week 
and recognizes the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary for the 
outstanding work that they do to keep boaters safe and to rescue those 
in distress at sea.
  Like so many other of the critical safety awareness campaigns in the 
transportation field, National Safe Boating Week came about through the 
dedication of a concerned voluntary group. The North American Safe 
Boating Campaign began some 50 years ago this year. In 1958, a year 
after the campaign began, Congress passed a joint resolution that 
authorized and requested the President to designate the week prior to 
Memorial Day weekend as National Safe Boating Week.
  In keeping with this tradition, this year, on May 10, President Bush 
again

[[Page H5011]]

designated the week before Memorial Day as National Safe Boating Week. 
According to the Coast Guard, as of 2005, there were just under 13 
million registered recreational boats in the United States. In 2005 a 
total of 4,969 recreational boating accidents were reported to the 
Coast Guard, although it is likely that there were many more accidents 
that were never reported.
  According to the Coast Guard, the leading types of recreational 
boating accidents were collisions and falls overboard. Careless 
inattention on the part of a boat's operator was the largest single 
cause of recreational boating accidents in 2005.
  However, the use of alcohol was the largest cause of accidents that 
resulted in fatalities. Simply put, mixing boats and alcohol can yield 
the same fatal results that mixing cars and alcohol can yield. In 2005, 
recreational boating accidents caused nearly 3,500 injuries and nearly 
700 deaths. Total deaths in 2005 were down approximately 25 percent 
below the total of 924 fatalities experienced in 1991. Unfortunately, 
however, recreational boating deaths in 2005 increased after 3 straight 
years of steady decline.
  The Coast Guard reports that of the nearly 700 people who died in 
recreational boating accidents in 2005, 491 died as a result of 
drowning and 426 of those who drowned were not wearing a life jacket. 
In my own State of Maryland, 13 of the 15 people who died in 
recreational boating accidents drowned.
  In response to the prevalence of drowning as the cause of death among 
recreational boaters, the theme of this year's National Safe Boating 
Week is simply ``Wear It.'' This imperative emphasizes the singular 
importance of the use of personal flotation devices during recreational 
boating.
  Importantly, however, it is not enough merely to have a personal 
flotational device on board a boat. Recreational boaters must 
familiarize themselves with the use of life jackets and should also 
take the time to experience swimming while wearing the device.
  I commend all those in our Nation's boating clubs who work year round 
to train recreational boaters on safe boating practices and to maintain 
awareness of safe boating practices.
  In closing, I want to recognize the outstanding work that the Coast 
Guard performs preserving life at sea. I have often said they are our 
thin blue line at sea, and that they are. Last year the Coast Guard 
saved more than 4,400 lives in the course of its search and rescue 
operations, many of which were performed under very difficult and 
dangerous circumstances.
  Just yesterday, we were again reminded of the incredible dedication 
and skill that the Coast Guard brings to their work when they 
coordinated the successful evacuation of a reported 281 passengers and 
crew members from the Empress of the North cruise ship off the coast of 
Alaska.
  Finally, I want to remember the Coast Guardsmen who have been lost 
this year, and all who have died in our Nation's service. I thank all 
of the members of the Coast Guard for their outstanding work. I also 
thank them for their work in the gulf coast during the Hurricane 
Katrina storm.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I introduced House Resolution 386 last week which 
recognizes the important work of the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard 
Auxiliary, and National Safe Boating Council in promoting boating 
safety.
  I represent a district in which recreational boating plays an 
extremely important role in the lives of many constituents. Sailors, 
water sports enthusiasts, and fishermen are active recreational boaters 
in the Chesapeake Bay and in Virginia's coastal waters.
  Recreational boating is one of the Nation's most popular pastimes, 
and while the number of recreational boating fatalities has declined by 
more than half since 1970, many lives are still lost each year. And, 
unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, there are far too many of us who have lost 
friends or family members.
  More than half of these lives could be saved with the proper use of 
boating safety equipment. The Coast Guard and States continue to work 
closely together to promote boating safety and to decrease the number 
of accidents, injuries and fatalities on U.S. waters, and they should 
be commended for their efforts.
  Congress took action in 2005 to support State and Federal boating 
safety programs by establishing the Sport Fishing and Recreational 
Boating Safety trust fund. In fiscal year 2006, more than $92 million 
in recreational boating safety State grants were provided to the States 
and U.S. territories from revenues that were wholly derived from 
Federal taxes on marine fuels and fishing equipment. This funding 
supports programs that encourage the use of personal flotation devices 
and other safe boating practices and are critical in safeguarding the 
recreational boating public.
  This resolution highlights the importance of safe recreational 
boating, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, we have no additional speakers, so I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Mrs. Miller).
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in very strong 
support of H. Res. 386, commending the efforts of the United States 
Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the National Safe Boating 
Council for their efforts to promote National Safe Boating Week.
  I actually grew up in the boating industry. My family was in the 
marine business and still today our family hobby is boating. As well, I 
serve as cochair of the Congressional Boating Caucus, and I know 
firsthand the benefits and enjoyment to be had from boating, but also 
the serious risks associated with irresponsible boating practices.
  While my home State of Michigan actually has the third most 
registered boats of any State in the Nation, unfortunately that great 
enjoyment of our nautical culture goes hand in hand with the many 
stories each year of boating accidents. We hear about persons lost 
overboard, or collisions or just reckless boating which results in 
accidents each year, many of them sadly ending in death that occurred 
while individuals were enjoying their favorite activity out on the 
water.
  The Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the National Safe 
Boating Council have taken it upon themselves to promote safe boating 
practices every day of the year, but especially they emphasize these 
goals during National Safe Boating Week. House Resolution 386 commends 
these groups for their service in this field.
  Mr. Speaker, some of the principles that are espoused by the National 
Safe Boating Week include the proper use of personal flotation devices 
or observing the rules of the road like who has the right-of-way, just 
understanding port from starboard, attending a boating education 
course, and avoiding the use of alcohol while operating a boat. All of 
these things can significantly cut down on the number of on-the-water 
accidents and help everybody enjoy their time on the lakes, rivers, 
bays, and oceans we are absolutely so very blessed to have in our great 
country.
  It is my pleasure to support this resolution, as well as all of the 
groups that it commends. In fact, I want to make note that my 
congressional district is a shoreline district and I also want to say 
thanks as well to all of the sheriff's marine divisions that operate 
not only in my counties but all around the Great Lakes basin and 
throughout our great Nation as well. They play a critical role in 
keeping our waterways safe. I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank the gentlelady for the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I think that the introduction of this legislation is 
very important, because it honors our Coast Guard, our Coast Guard 
Auxiliary and the National Safe Boating Council.
  I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the brave men and 
women of our Coast Guard and our Coast Guard Auxiliary, including those 
that work at Coast Guard Sector Key West in my congressional district. 
They work night and day to keep our

[[Page H5012]]

Nation's waterways safe. Without their tireless dedication and 
outstanding service, we would not have such a superb safety record on 
our oceans, on our lakes and on our rivers.
  Recreational and commercial boating is also a big part of life for my 
district, Congressional District 18 in Florida, and our citizens truly 
appreciate the hard work and the dedication of the Coast Guard 
patrolling our Nation's waters.
  I will also once again express my deep appreciation for the 
remarkable work that our Coast Guard and Auxiliary does on behalf of 
the public as we celebrate the upcoming National Safe Boating Week, and 
I thank the gentlelady for introducing this legislation.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Very briefly, we want to again congratulate Mrs. Drake on the 
sponsorship of this legislation. It is very important.
  One of the things our Subcommittee on the Coast Guard just recently 
had, we had a hearing with regard to fishing safety. One of the 
interesting things that came forth during that discussion and during 
that hearing was how the industry was so very much interested in making 
sure that there was boating safety, and they wanted to make sure that 
their industry was regulated.

                              {time}  1430

  That was very pleasing to our ears. So it is with that, Mr. Speaker, 
I urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House 
Resolution 386, recognizing the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, 
and other boating safety organizations for their efforts to promote 
National Safe Boating Week.
  National Safe Boating Week is really about educating boaters. In 
2005, there were 697 boating fatalities in the United States. The 
leading cause of death in a boating accident is drowning. Of the 491 
people that drowned in 2003, almost 90 percent were not wearing a 
lifejacket. It is estimated that more than 50 percent of these deaths 
could have been prevent by proper use of a Personal Flotation Device.
  The Coast Guard Auxiliary, and its 27,000 members, are on our 
Nation's waterways every day conducting voluntary safe boating 
examinations and educating the public about safe boating practices. In 
addition, the Auxiliary conducts harbor patrols, assists in search and 
rescue and marine environmental protection, and conducts boating safety 
courses; volunteering more than 2 million hours annually to benefit 
their fellow boaters.
  Boating safety organizations, such as the National Safe Boating 
Council, educate recreational boaters about safety issues. As the 
summer boating season begins, they have some simple recommendations for 
boaters:
  Do wear a Life Jacket. They Float. You Don't.
  Don't mix alcohol and boating.
  Do observe the nautical rules-of-the-road.
  Don't stand in a small boat.
  Do check the weather forecast before getting underway.
  Don't overload your boat.
  Do keep a good lookout.
  Mr. Speaker, this House should help educate the boating public about 
prudent safety measures that can help save their lives.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting House 
Resolution 386 and help bring more attention to the importance of 
boating safety.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 386, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``Resolution recognizing the 
Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and other boating safety 
organizations for their efforts to promote National Safe Boating 
Week''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________