[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 14409-14411]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE RECREATIONAL BOATING COMMUNITY

  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 410) recognizing the numerous 
contributions of the recreational boating community and the boating 
industry to the continuing prosperity and affluence of the United 
States.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 410

       Whereas the boating community in the United States includes 
     over 59,000,000 individuals, generates more than 
     $33,000,000,000 annually in the United States economy, and 
     provides jobs for 337,000 citizens of the United States who 
     earn wages totaling $10,400,000,000 annually;
       Whereas boaters often serve as stewards of the marine 
     environment of the United States, educating future 
     generations of the value of these resources, and preserving 
     such resources for such generations' enjoyment;
       Whereas there are approximately 1,400 active boat builders 
     in the United States, using materials and services 
     contributed from all 50 States;
       Whereas boating, as an activity, provides opportunities for 
     families to be together, appeals to all age groups, and has a 
     beneficial effect on the physical fitness and scholastic 
     performance of those who participate; and
       Whereas, July 1, 2009, would be an appropriate day to 
     establish as National Boating Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) the recreational boating community and the boating 
     industry of the United States should be commended for their 
     numerous contributions to the economy of the United States, 
     the well-being of United States citizens, and responsible 
     environmental stewardship of the marine resources of the 
     United States; and
       (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling on 
     the people of the United States to observe National Boating 
     Day with appropriate programs and activities that emphasize 
     family involvement and provide an opportunity to promote the 
     boating industry.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Larsen) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on House 
Resolution 410.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 410, recognizing the 
numerous contributions of the recreational boating community and the 
boating industry to the continuing prosperity and affluence of the 
United States.
  This bipartisan resolution was introduced by Representatives Ron 
Klein of Florida and Henry Brown of South Carolina, along with the co-
Chairs of the Congressional Boating Caucus, Representatives Gene Taylor 
of Mississippi and Candice Miller of Michigan.
  House Resolution 410 honors the 59 million boaters in the United 
States. As evidenced by the bipartisan cosponsors of this resolution, 
American boaters span all across the country, including my constituents 
in Washington State who take to the waters of the Puget Sound.

                              {time}  1830

  Boating provides a great activity for thousands of families, Mr. 
Speaker, on our lakes and certainly on our great coasts--to fish, to 
dive, to snorkel or to simply enjoy America's stunning natural marine 
resources.
  Boating isn't just a recreational activity. The boating industry is 
one of America's great industries that includes about 1,400 active boat 
builders in the United States, including many in my district, using 
materials and services contributed from all 50 States. These are 
American jobs that are creating a uniquely American product. Additional 
jobs include electricians, carpenters, painters, and engineers who work 
to repair or to refit recreational vessels--along with all the crew 
members and employees at our many marinas and harbors.
  When taken together, boating in America generates more than $33 
million annually for our economy, and it provides 337,000 jobs, 
totaling $10.4 billion in wages every year. For these reasons, I am 
urging my colleagues to support House Resolution 410.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of House Resolution 410, a resolution recognizing 
the recreational boating community and industries.
  I now recognize for as much time as he may consume our colleague from 
South Carolina, Mr. Henry Brown.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. I appreciate my colleague from Wisconsin 
for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my support for House Resolution 
410, legislation I was proud to introduce with Representative Klein. As 
the Representative for 75 percent of South Carolina's coast and for 
many of my State's recreational and commercial boaters, I am proud of 
this resolution, which recognizes the numerous contributions of the 
recreational boating community and of the boating industry.
  Boating is big business in the State of South Carolina, with more 
than $826 million in sales a year and with nearly 9,000 boating 
industry employees across the State. Boats are owned by families of all 
income levels in communities across my State and the Nation. In my 
district alone, there are 82,441 registered recreational boats, and 
there are 145 boating businesses which range from small charter 
operations and marinas to major boat engine manufacturers at Cummins 
Marine, an employer of hundreds of my constituents.
  Nationally, the recreational boating community includes over 59 
million Americans, and it makes a significant impact on our economy. 
Boaters also serve as stewards of the marine environment as the boating 
community has a long history of educating future generations on the 
value of these resources and on how to preserve them for their 
enjoyment. Additionally, through annual motorboat fuel taxes, boaters 
contribute more than $100 million towards

[[Page 14410]]

fish restoration and towards other environmental programs.
  More than anything else, boating is important to American families as 
it provides opportunities for them to spend quality time together. It 
appeals to all age groups, and it has the beneficial effect on the 
physical fitness and scholastic performance of those who participate.
  At the request of my constituent, Mr. Bill Hanahan, I worked to 
include language in this resolution, marking the important role that 
boating plays for American families. As Mr. Hanahan said, Joining 
family and friends on the water is a great way to escape the chaos of 
our busy lives, create quality memories together and appreciate nature 
in all its glory.
  Boating does just that, and I encourage all of my colleagues to 
support this resolution.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to 
yield 4 minutes to the cosponsor of this resolution, Mr. Klein of 
Florida.
  Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Larsen) for yielding me time, and I also want to 
commend him for his leadership on this important issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 410, a resolution I 
introduced with my friend from South Carolina, the Honorable Henry 
Brown, along with the distinguished co-Chairs of the Congressional 
Boating Caucus, the Honorable Gene Taylor from Mississippi and the 
Honorable Candice Miller from Michigan.
  Our resolution highlights the important contributions of the 
recreational boating community and the boating industry as to the 
quality of our lives and as to our continued economic prosperity. I 
urge President Obama to issue a proclamation calling upon the American 
people to observe July 1 as National Boating Day.
  Boating is a famous symbol for south Florida, where I come from, and 
for other parts around the country. Millions of residents in our 
community and tourists take to the waters of south Florida to boat, to 
fish, to dive, to snorkel, and to view scenic tours along our pristine 
coastline and along our unique intercoastal waterway. Palm Beach County 
alone has over 40,000 registered boaters. Fort Lauderdale's majestic 
canals have earned it the nickname ``the Venice of America.''
  The significance of the boating community is not only symbolic. The 
industry is a major economic engine in Florida, responsible for over 
$2.8 billion in direct sales and for 30,000 jobs State-wide. In my 
district alone, there are over 34,000 registered boats. The industry 
produces $193 million, and it employs over 2,000 of my constituents.
  As everyone here knows, the contributions of the boating community 
extend far beyond the Sunshine State. The boating community includes 59 
million people and 13.6 million registered boats throughout the United 
States. In addition, the recreational boating industry provides more 
than $37 billion in sales and in services to the U.S. economy, and it 
provides over 300,000 jobs throughout our country.
  One need only look at the geographic diversity among members of the 
Congressional Boating Caucus, of which I am a proud member, to measure 
the broad influence and contributions of the boating community and of 
the boating industry. Members come from 33 States, including Tennessee, 
Pennsylvania, Kansas, and West Virginia.
  Clearly, boating is not just a coastal pastime. It is an American 
pastime. Boating also brings us closer to our natural resources and 
treasures. I strongly believe that an appreciation for environmental 
stewardship comes through an interaction with nature. For example, it's 
hard to comprehend the beauty of our coral reefs until you see it under 
water with your own eyes through a boat. Once you do, you begin to 
understand their importance and the need to protect them for the 
continued health of our oceans.
  Boating gives us these cherished opportunities to commune with 
nature, and it should be no surprise that boaters can be impassioned 
stewards of the environment, teaching future generations of boaters to 
have a healthy respect and appreciation for our natural resources.
  For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. 
Res. 410, and I thank the gentleman from Washington again for bringing 
H. Res. 410 to the floor.
  I urge its passage.
  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to our 
colleague from Indiana, Representative Souder.
  Mr. SOUDER. I thank my friend and colleague from Wisconsin for his 
leadership on Transportation and for the time to speak on this bill.
  As a member of the Boating Caucus, since we first formed this, I am 
really pleased to be supportive of this resolution. In northeast 
Indiana, basically, I represent a lot of water with plants and farms in 
between.
  In Kosciusko County, we have 100 lakes. In Steuben County, we have 
100 lakes. Along this ridge, one water system heads towards Lake Erie; 
one water system heads towards Lake Michigan, and the other goes down 
into the Mississippi Valley. Because of geological potholes basically 
connected together, sometimes through small dams and sometimes in 
natural larger lakes, we have the bulk of the lakes in Indiana. It is 
when the glaciers pulled back. So in this zone, I would guess we may 
have 40 to 60 percent of the natural lakes in the State of Indiana. 
Some have been, historically in United States' history, big 
attractions, not necessarily as big a tourist attraction as in Florida 
or as in Wisconsin or, for that matter, as in Washington State, but 
Winona Lake was a big Chautauqua area.
  In Kosciusko County, we have a number of State parks on these lakes, 
and so we're proud to bring in lots of regional tourism and people who 
enjoy them. They're sometimes lined up to get to the open space on our 
lakes in Indiana.
  Yet, as the number one manufacturing district in the United States--I 
can't remember the latest figures--I believe we're fifth in the 
manufacturing of boats. Many of those boats go down to Florida and to 
the coasts. The inboard-outboard engine and the jet engine were both 
invented in my district, working with Volvo in Sweden. Many of the 
larger boat companies are based there--everything from float boats to 
fishing boats to high-powered speedboats. It is a critical part of our 
district. It has been a pleasure to work with the boating industry as 
we work on how to get retail floor plan financing for boats.
  We hear a lot right now about GM and Chrysler--the auto companies. I 
represent Elkhart County, along with Congressman Joe Donnelly. We've 
been working to make sure of the RV industry, 58 percent of which is 
there; but if you'll notice and look carefully at the retail floor plan 
financing and at SBA and at what they've done through TALF and other 
things, you'll see it says cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles, and boats, 
because the same challenge that we're facing in the auto industry is 
true for the boating industry, which is how do we make sure there are 
adequate boats being purchased from manufacturers; how do we make sure 
there is the financing to keep them afloat, and then how do we make 
sure of the dealers. If they can only get one-fourth of their normal 
inventory there, here in this peak season for selling boats, it isn't 
going to work.
  So this is a very unusual time and an important time for the boating 
industry. Not only are we entering the summer season in the Great Lakes 
region and in other areas of the country where boating and recreation 
are at a peak, but it's also a time of survival. It is probably the 
biggest challenge to the boat manufacturers since the luxury tax nearly 
sunk them years ago.
  So I stand, honored to speak on behalf of this resolution because 
it's very important that we call to the attention of the American 
people not only the great pleasures of recreational boating but also 
the importance of having our boating industry survive.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers. 
So, at this point, I will reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page 14411]]


  Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I fully support House Resolution 410, and I 
urge my colleagues to do the same.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
   Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 410, 
introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Klein), which recognizes 
the recreational boating community and boating industry for their 
contributions to the national economy and urges the President to issue 
a proclamation to observe July 1, 2009 as National Boating Day.
  In the United States, the boating community consists of over 59 
million people and over 13 million registered recreational boats. The 
boating community supports over 330,000 American jobs with total wages 
totaling approximately $10.4 billion a year. There are approximately 
1400 boat builders in the United States that construct and repair boats 
using materials and services from all 50 States. In addition, 
recreational boating and the boating industry contribute over $33 
billion to the American economy annually.
  In my state of Minnesota, there are over 866,000 registered boats--
the third largest number of boats of any state in the country. In fact, 
Minnesota has the most boats per capita of any state: there is one boat 
for every six people.
  Whether it is on the river, a lake, along the ocean, inter-coastal or 
intra-coastal waterway, recreational boaters support and depend on over 
12,000 marinas all across the United States.
  Recreational boating is an American pas-time. It is a family activity 
that appeals to all age groups and is a constructive outlet for 
entertainment. Whether water skiing, snorkeling, fishing, or just 
relaxing on the water, boating is a perfect reason to turn off the 
television and put away the video games and to bring families and 
friends closer together. For these reasons, July 1, 2009, should be 
established as National Boating Day.
  I support H. Res. 410, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. 
Res. 410. This resolution commends the recreational boating industry 
and boating community for their sizable contribution to the economy of 
United States, and for their stewardship of the environment.
  There are more than 59 million boaters in the United States today, 
helping to generate $33 billion dollars annually in economic activity. 
As a result, the boating industry supports an estimated 337,000 
employees, who manufacture and sell boats and operate the harbors and 
marinas. The goods and services purchased to build and maintain boats 
come from each of the fifty states. Therefore, boating does not only 
help the water regions of our country, but benefits America as a whole.
  That having been said, the boating industry and community are 
especially important to Michigan and to Michigan's economy. They 
provide invaluable assets to my district, which has Lakes Huron and St. 
Clair and the St. Clair River on its eastern border. Boating is not 
just an important recreational opportunity; for many, life on the water 
becomes a way of life. The impact of boating spills over into other 
sectors of the economy like tourism and hospitality industries.
  Unfortunately, when the economy falters, it is often the recreational 
boating industry that feels the impact first. Many people think of 
boating as a recreation for only the rich, but in Michigan we know that 
is simply not the case. The people who make the boating industry what 
it is are the working class individuals who spend their weekends out on 
the water with friends and family. When those people face economic 
challenges, you will find that the boating industry does as well.
  In this climate, the boating industry is facing some difficult times, 
nowhere more difficult than in the state of Michigan. In Michigan, we 
were once the number one state in terms of total boat registrations, 
but we have since slipped to fourth. Given the challenges that have 
faced the Michigan economy over the last few years, this is no 
surprise. The boat manufacturers, dealers, and marina operators should 
all be commended for their efforts to keep going through this economic 
period.
  Since coming to Congress, I have worked to promote issues that are 
important to maintaining a thriving and profitable boating industry. I 
am proud to co-chair of the Congressional Boating Caucus with Gene 
Taylor, and together we have worked on a number of issues to help the 
boating industry weather the storms that have come its way. This 
resolution will acknowledge the contributions of the boating industry 
as they fight through this difficult time.
  I urge all of you to please join with me in supporting this bi-
partisan initiative to recognize our boaters and recommend that 
President Obama issue a proclamation calling for the observation of 
National Boating Day.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to 
support House Resolution 410, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 410.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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