[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 27320-27322]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1815
     RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF AMERICA'S WATERWAY WATCH PROGRAM

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 549) recognizing the importance of America's 
Waterway Watch program, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 549

       Whereas the United States has a maritime border that 
     exceeds 95,000 miles;
       Whereas the Department of Homeland Security has begun to 
     focus greater attention on potential security threats from 
     small vessels and the importance of increasing maritime 
     domain awareness;
       Whereas the Coast Guard currently conducts a maritime 
     homeland security public awareness program called America's 
     Waterway Watch program;
       Whereas America's Waterway Watch is a public outreach 
     program to encourage America's 70,000,000 boaters and others 
     who live, work, or engage in recreational activities around 
     America's waterways to maintain a heightened sense of 
     awareness in the maritime domain and report suspicious and 
     unusual activities to the Coast Guard National Response 
     Center and other appropriate law enforcement agencies;
       Whereas America's Waterway Watch program educates the 
     public on what suspicious activity is and provides a toll-
     free telephone number, (877) 24-WATCH, for the public to 
     report such activity to prevent terrorism and other criminal 
     acts;
       Whereas the Coast Guard promotes this program by 
     distributing educational materials, boat decals, posters, and 
     reporting forms to recreational boaters, marine dealers, 
     marinas, and other businesses located near waterways;
       Whereas America's Waterway Watch program acts as a force 
     multiplier for the Coast Guard and local law enforcement and 
     builds on local and regional security programs;
       Whereas the Department of Homeland Security conducted a 
     National Small Vessel Security Summit on June 19 and June 20, 
     2007, to educate small vessel operators and other 
     stakeholders on current security risks and initiate dialogue 
     on possible solutions to mitigate gaps in United States 
     maritime domain awareness; and
       Whereas, during the National Small Vessel Security Summit, 
     participants highlighted America's Waterway Watch program and 
     recognized its importance to increasing maritime domain 
     awareness: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the importance of increasing maritime domain 
     awareness;
       (2) encourages those who live, work, or engage in 
     recreational activities around America's waterways to 
     maintain a heightened sense of awareness in the maritime 
     domain and report suspicious and unusual activities to 
     appropriate authorities; and
       (3) supports the goals of America's Waterway Watch program.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Cummings) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette) 
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. 549.
  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. 
House Resolution 549, introduced by Congressman Gus Bilirakis, 
recognizes the contributions made to our Nation's security by the Coast 
Guard's Waterway Watch program. As chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I strongly support the 
Waterway Watch program, and I support the resolution offered by the 
gentleman from Florida.
  Put simply, America's Waterway Watch program enlists the 70 million 
Americans who work, play or live around our Nation's waterfronts, 
rivers, lakes, and coastal regions to become part of our Nation's first 
line of defense by observing and reporting suspicious activities. 
Founded by the Coast Guard in 2004, the Waterway Watch is similar to 
earlier Coast Watch programs instituted during World War II.
  At the time, the Coast Watch program was comprised of a group of 
volunteers who scanned our coasts for U-boats threatening U.S. 
shipping. Today, America's Waterway Watch calls on volunteers to aid in 
the war on terrorism on our home front. People are advised to take note 
of suspicious activities and, if it can be done safely, they are 
encouraged to take photographs or videotape of the occurrence. 
Observers are then asked to immediately report incidents they have 
witnessed by calling 911 or the America's Waterway Watch 24-hour 
national toll-free telephone number, 1-877-24-WATCH. Reported 
information is then sent to the National Response Center located at 
Coast Guard headquarters to be evaluated and dispersed to local Coast 
Guard responders.
  I emphasize that this watch program is meant to be a simple deterrent 
to potential terrorist activity by asking those who frequent our 
waterways, ports, and waterfront areas to report events and people that 
seem out of place. It is not a surveillance program and is not meant to 
spread paranoia.
  Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Subcommittee, I also commend the Coast Guard Auxiliary, 
which is at the forefront of the Waterway Watch program. The auxiliary 
is the uniformed civilian component of the Coast Guard. It is primarily 
responsible for implementing programs that serve the recreational 
boating community. In fact, the auxiliary helps to promote America's 
Waterway Watch through their well-established recreational boating 
safety programs.
  I also commend the Nationwide Insurance Company, which has supported 
the Waterway Watch program by giving the Coast Guard Auxiliary 
Association a $96,000 grant to support the auxiliary's role in the 
Coast Guard's maritime homeland security missions. The grant funded the 
purchase of Waterway Watch stickers that boaters can display on their 
boats. It also funded the printing of brochures, wallet cards, and 
posters that provide pertinent information on the watch program, 
including detailing how citizens can become involved in the program and 
listing the numbers that can be called to report suspicious activities.
  The Coast Guard's active duty, Reserve and auxiliary forces have 
united with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
and local law enforcement agencies to detect and deter threatening 
activities at waterfront facilities.
  However, there are some 95,000 miles of shoreline, 300,000 square 
miles of waterways, 6,000 bridges, 360 ports of call, and 12,000 
marinas in the United States; and the Coast Guard and other first 
responders simply cannot watch all of these facilities all the time. 
America's Waterway Watch program ensures that ordinary citizens can 
help our Nation's uniformed agencies protect our homeland simply by 
remaining vigilant in their own communities.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I again express my support for America's 
Waterway Watch program, which helps keep citizens involved in watching 
our Nation's shores and waterways, and recognizes the importance of the 
service they are providing. I urge my colleagues to adopt H. Res. 549 
and again commend Congressman Bilirakis for his work on this measure. I 
also congratulate and thank my colleague, the ranking member of our 
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee (Mr. LaTourette), 
for his cooperation in this bipartisan effort.

[[Page 27321]]

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the subcommittee chairman, Mr. Cummings 
from Maryland, for bringing this important measure to the floor in such 
a bipartisan way. I enjoy continuing to work with the chairman on a 
variety of matters that affect the Coast Guard and our Nation's 
maritime industry.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 549, which 
recognizes the importance of America's Waterway Watch program in 
enhancing our Nation's maritime security. America's Waterway Watch was 
established by the Coast Guard to encourage America's 70 million 
recreational boaters to report suspicious activity in the maritime 
environment to local law enforcement agencies. The program is a 
nationwide initiative that is similar to the Neighborhood Watch program 
that is so effective in many of our neighborhoods back home.
  Through America's Waterway Watch program, the Coast Guard, the Coast 
Guard Reserve, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary are actively educating the 
public on actions and behavior that constitute suspicious activities. 
These outreach efforts are being made in cooperation with our Nation's 
recreational boaters, marine dealers, marinas, and other businesses 
located near waterways. America's Waterway Watch program acts as an 
important force multiplier for Coast Guard and local law enforcement 
and enhances the capabilities of local and regional security programs.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the resolution's sponsor, the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), and all of the other cosponsors 
for rightly recognizing this important community program.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of the Members of the House to support this 
resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. We will reserve, Mr. Speaker.
  We have no other speakers.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. I thank the chairman.
  At this time, it is my pleasure to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the author of the resolution.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 549, a 
resolution that I have introduced to recognize the importance of 
increased maritime domain awareness and support the goals of America's 
Waterway Watch program. It has become clear in the years since 9/11 
that all Americans have a shared responsibility for our country's 
security. That is why I am pleased to highlight the importance of a 
program that encourages citizens to do their part to strengthen our 
homeland defenses.
  The Department of Homeland Security has begun to focus greater 
attention on potential security threats from individuals aboard small 
vessels and the importance of increasing maritime domain awareness. 
Many of us who represent coastal States already know and understand how 
vitally important it is to take reasonable and appropriate security 
precautions to secure our maritime borders from such threats.
  The Coast Guard currently conducts a maritime homeland security 
public awareness program called America's Waterway Watch. This program, 
which is the maritime equivalent of a Neighborhood Watch program, 
encourages boaters and others who live, work or engage in recreational 
activities around America's waterways to maintain a heightened sense of 
awareness and report suspicious and unusual activities.
  This voluntary public outreach program educates America's 70 million 
boaters about the types of suspicious activities they should be looking 
for and encourages them to report any such abnormalities to the Coast 
Guard's National Response Center, which is manned 24 hours a day at 
877-24-WATCH. Calls to the center are immediately evaluated and, if 
necessary, acted upon by local Coast Guard sector assets and other law 
enforcement authorities.
  This program, which the Coast Guard promotes by distributing 
educational materials and other information to recreational boaters, 
marine dealers, marinas and other businesses located near waterways, 
acts as a force multiplier for the Coast Guard and local law 
enforcement to help increase maritime domain awareness and strengthen 
maritime security.
  There is no question that we need to improve waterway security and 
bolster our maritime defenses. However, it is critically important that 
we do so in a reasonable and responsible manner with the input and 
advice of America's recreational boaters and manufacturers.
  I am pleased that the Department of Homeland Security conducted a 
National Small Vessel Security Summit in June to educate small vessel 
operators and other stakeholders on current security risks and initiate 
a dialogue about possible solutions to close whatever gaps exist in our 
maritime security.
  Summit participants highlighted America's Waterway Watch and its 
contributions to increasing maritime domain awareness and urge greater 
support for it. I agree that America's Waterway Watch program is a 
sensible and reasonable step toward bolstering our maritime defenses 
without imposing costly and confusing new regulations on recreational 
boaters who play an important economic role in my district. I look 
forward to a continuing and productive dialogue between them and 
Federal Homeland Security officials before any rules or mandates are 
proposed.
  Before I finish, I want to thank Transportation and Infrastructure 
Committee Chairman James Oberstar and Chairman Cummings and Mr. 
LaTourette from Ohio and particularly also my Florida colleague, 
Ranking Member John Mica, for moving this resolution through their 
committee and allowing it to come on the floor today. I also want to 
thank my colleagues from Florida who have shown their bipartisan 
support for this resolution, which is indicative of how important the 
issue of marine security is for our State. I would like to thank all of 
our colleagues who have cosponsored this particular resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe it is necessary to emphasize the importance of 
increasing maritime domain awareness and encourage recreational boaters 
and others to report suspicious and unusual activities, which is what 
America's Waterway Watch program does. I urge all of my colleagues to 
embrace the goals of this program and our shared responsibility for 
homeland security by supporting House Resolution 549.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I would advise my friend, the 
distinguished chairman of the subcommittee, that we have no additional 
speakers, and if he is prepared to yield back, I will yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. We are prepared to do so.
  Mr. LaTOURETTE. I yield back the balance of my time and urge adoption 
of the resolution.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
this resolution and I want to commend Mr. Bilirakis for drawing 
attention to this important program.
  The attacks of 9/11 made every citizen mindful of the need for 
constant vigilance to protect our country from the threat of terrorism. 
Keeping America safe requires the efforts of every American.
  The openness of our Nation's waterways and harbors prevents 
opportunities for terrorists to exploit. The U.S. Coast Guard works 
very hard to ensure the safety of these areas, and they do a tremendous 
job for which we are all very grateful.
  However, recreational boaters also have an important role to play in 
this area, and America's Waterway Watch program works hard to teach 
recreational boaters about what they can do to protect our homeland. 
Boaters provide critical eyes and ears in watching over our coasts, our 
ports, and other important infrastructure like bridges and tunnels.
  Specifically, participants in the campaign are requested to report: 
Individuals engaged in irregular activity such as surveillance or 
unusual

[[Page 27322]]

boating operations; unattended vessels in strange locations; lights 
flashing between boats; unusual activity near bridges, overpasses, 
industrial facilities, or fuel docks.
  In Michigan this program has been particularly important. My home 
state has over 3,000 miles of shoreline--more than any other state 
except Alaska--which presents an incredible challenge for our 
government agencies to patrol. And of course we share much of this 
water with Canada which enables people to come across into the United 
States very easily. And in some places this liquid border is quite 
narrow--such as the St. Clair or Detroit Rivers. So we really have to 
rely on our boaters to keep their eyes on things.
  In Michigan, we have more than 900,000 boats registered in our state, 
which makes us the number 1 state for per capita boat ownership, and 
3rd overall behind Florida and California. Boating is an important part 
of life in the Great Lakes State.
  In 2005, state officials began a campaign to notify our state's 
boaters of this Waterway Watch program. Working with the Coast Guard 
and the Michigan Boating Industries Association, Michigan sent out a 
brochure on this program with each watercraft registration renewal 
notice. Since 2007 was the 3rd year this was done, we have now reached 
nearly all of our state's boaters with information about the Waterway 
Watch program.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this program, I 
strongly support the resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do the 
same.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, we urge Members to vote for this very 
meaningful resolution, and we wholeheartedly support it. I want to 
thank the sponsor for his thoughtful piece of legislation.
  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. 549.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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