[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 103 (Friday, May 26, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 34375-34376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13499]



[[Page 34373]]

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Part IX





The President





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Proclamation 7312--National Maritime Day, 2000
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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 103 / Friday, May 26, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 34375]]

                Proclamation 7312 of May 22, 2000

                
National Maritime Day, 2000

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Americans have always looked to the sea as a source of 
                prosperity and security. Bounded by two oceans and the 
                Gulf of Mexico, with the Great Lakes, the Saint 
                Lawrence Seaway, scores of harbors, ports, and inlets, 
                and thousands of miles of inland river shorelines, our 
                Nation has been blessed with an unparalleled means of 
                moving passengers and freight, protecting our freedom, 
                and linking our citizens with the world.

                Today, 95 percent of our imports and exports are moved 
                by water--more than one billion metric tons of cargo--
                and our waterways currently handle 140 million 
                passengers a year. Our domestic fleet is one of our 
                most productive and cost-effective modes of 
                transportation, moving 24 percent of the Nation's cargo 
                at less than 2 percent of America's total freight cost. 
                The men and women of the U.S. Merchant Marine and the 
                thousands of other workers in our Nation's maritime 
                industry have made immeasurable contributions to our 
                economic strength, standard of living, and leadership 
                in the global marketplace.

                The U.S. Merchant Marine plays an equally important 
                role in maintaining our national security. In times of 
                conflict or crisis, the Armed Forces rely upon the 
                Merchant Marine's sealift capability to transport 
                critically needed equipment and supplies. Time and 
                again, American mariners have demonstrated their 
                willingness and ability to meet often daunting 
                challenges. From World War II to Korea to Vietnam, from 
                Desert Storm to the Balkans and in numerous incidents 
                in between, the U.S. Merchant Marine has responded with 
                courage, patriotism, and a steadfast devotion to duty.

                The 21st century will hold new challenges for our 
                maritime industry, including an anticipated doubling of 
                cargo and passenger traffic in the next two decades. If 
                we are to meet those challenges, we must maintain a 
                robust U.S.-flag fleet, crewed by American mariners. 
                Last September, the Secretary of Transportation 
                presented to the Congress a blueprint for modernizing 
                our Marine Transportation System--the waterways, ports, 
                railways, and roads that move people and goods to, 
                from, and on the water. We must build more and better 
                ships, modernize our shipyards, create deeper ports for 
                today's ever larger containerships and ocean liners, 
                and maintain a skilled maritime workforce. We must also 
                ensure that local, State, and Federal agencies, the 
                U.S. military, the maritime industry, shippers, labor 
                unions, environmental groups, and other concerned 
                organizations work in partnership to carry out this 
                blueprint.

                As we celebrate National Maritime Day this year, we 
                also mark the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Maritime 
                Administration. Throughout the past five decades, the 
                dedicated men and women of this agency have worked to 
                improve the competitiveness of our maritime industry in 
                world markets and to strengthen our ability to respond 
                swiftly and effectively in times of crisis. On behalf 
                of a grateful Nation, I salute these outstanding public 
                servants for their commitment to the U.S. Merchant 
                Marine and to the shipbuilding, repair services, ports, 
                and intermodal water and land transportation systems 
                they need to function efficiently.

[[Page 34376]]

                In recognition of the importance of the U.S. Merchant 
                Marine to our Nation's prosperity and security, the 
                Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933, 
                has designated May 22 of each year as ``National 
                Maritime Day'' and has authorized and requested the 
                President to issue annually a proclamation calling for 
                its appropriate observance.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 
                2000, as National Maritime Day. I urge all Americans to 
                observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, 
                and activities and by displaying the flag of the United 
                States in their homes and in their communities. I also 
                request that all merchant ships sailing under the 
                American flag dress ship on that day.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twenty-second day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand, and of the Independence of the United States 
                of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 00-13499
Filed 5-25-00; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P