[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9138]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



               RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL MARITIME DAY 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEPHEN HORN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 22, 2001

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize today, May 22, 2001, as 
National Maritime Day. In 1933 the 73rd Congress passed Senate Joint 
Resolution 7 designating May 22nd as National Maritime Day. Since that 
time every President starting with Franklin Roosevelt has issued an 
annual proclamation declaring May 22nd as National Maritime Day. I am 
pleased that President Bush has continued that proud tradition again 
this year.
  With yesterday's passage of House Concurrent Resolution 109, this 
body took a positive step toward recognizing the significant 
contributions of the United States Merchant Marine to our maritime 
defense and national security. This resolution acknowledges the 
critical role played by vessels of the U.S. Merchant Marine fleet in 
transporting equipment, supplies, and personnel to support the nation's 
defense and recognizing the historical significance of May 22nd as 
National Maritime Day. It encourages the American people and 
appropriate government agencies to recognize the services and 
sacrifices of the U.S. Merchant Marine through ceremonies. And it 
requests that all U.s. ships prominently display the American flag on 
this day. As a co-sponsor of this legislation, I am pleased to see its 
passage in the House.
  It is fitting to honor the past and present members of the U.S. 
Merchant Marine. To this end, I introduced legislation in the last 
Congress to authorize additional federal funding for the Merchant 
Marine Memorial Wall in San Pedro, California. This provision has been 
incorporated into broader legislation, H.R. 1098 and I am pleased with 
the legislative progress of the Maritime Policy Improvement Act of 2001 
thus far. The House passed this measure in March by a bi-partisan vote 
of 415 to 3. The Senate Committee on Commerce recently approved this 
legislation. It is my hope that the full Senate will act soon on H.R. 
1098 and that we will send this legislation to the President shortly.
  I am proud to acknowledge the U.S. maritime fleet on National 
Maritime Day. Each day U.S. mariners diligently transport tons of 
imports and exports from ports around the country, many working in my 
district at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. On this day, we 
thank those people civilian and military, who spend their days on the 
water serving the American people.

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