[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11044]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        AMERICA'S PREMIER YOUTH BOATING SAFETY EDUCATION PROGRAM

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                          HON. DAVID P. JOYCE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 25, 2014

  Mr. JOYCE. Mr. Speaker, Spirit of America is a not for profit public 
service organization established in 1995, in Mentor, Ohio. Spirit of 
America exists primarily to serve our nation's youth with America's 
Premier Youth Boating Safety Education Program.
  Spirit of America combines the resources of traditional and non-
traditional education activities to provide a place and a way for 
students to learn, react, and develop lifelong learning skills and 
ambitions. They empower our youth to develop responsibility, 
confidence, self esteem, teamwork, and safe boating practices.
  Furthermore this organization proves that advancing community boating 
where Spirit of America programs are located spurs other economic and 
social benefits, while continuing to provide a resource for the marine 
industry.


                    Future Boaters = Future Business

  The Spirit of America Foundation has placed and graduated tens of 
thousands of young people over the past 19 years. In recognition of 
their efforts and to promote awareness, Spirit of America has coined 
and created the ``National Take Our Youth Boating 
Week''. This special event will be held/
celebrated annually the second week in July, beginning this July 4th-
12th. There will be a great deal of promotion amongst their partners 
including the United States Coast Guard (USCG), manufacturers of the 
marine industry, and other educational non-profit organizations whose 
mission is similar to theirs. The Spirit of America Foundation would 
like to have the event recognized on the national level by July 2015 
but appreciates our acknowledgment for 2014 in the mean time.
  The plan is that all interested parties will participate in the 
mission of getting more youth on the water.


                  No Child (will be) Left on the Dock

  Education and safety are of the utmost importance and Spirit of 
America is changing the way that the world views boating, in particular 
with young people. In 2013 the lowest number of fatalities were 
recorded since the USCG has been recording data. They plan to have this 
program available in all 50 states in the future. Please get involved 
by visiting the website for a location to participate, or contact them 
directly for information about opening a program in your area. 
www.SpiritofAmerica95.org

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