[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 22, 2001)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 28049-28050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-13056]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 22, 2001 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 28049]]

                Proclamation 7440 of May 17, 2001

                
National Safe Boating Week, 2001

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Over 70 million recreational boaters enjoy our Nation's 
                waters, and the national economic impact of 
                recreational boating is more than $25 billion each 
                year. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the 
                enactment of the Federal Boat Safety Act. This 
                legislation, designed to improve boating safety and to 
                foster greater use and enjoyment of our rivers, lakes, 
                bays, and waters, has accomplished these goals. By 
                encouraging the participation of States, local 
                communities, industry, and the boating public, new 
                generations of Americans have benefited from the 
                development of comprehensive boating safety programs.

                Two years after passage of the Federal Boat Safety Act 
                of 1971, 1,754 recreational boating fatalities were 
                reported, on a base of approximately 6 million 
                recreational vessels registered. Since then, the number 
                of registered boats has grown by over 100 percent, yet 
                reported boating fatalities have declined to 
                approximately 750-800 each year.

                The coordinated efforts over the past 29 years of the 
                Federal Government, including the Coast Guard and the 
                Coast Guard Auxiliary, States and local communities, 
                and numerous recreational boating organizations, have 
                made the Recreational Boating Safety Program a success. 
                Cumulatively, an estimated 27,000 lives are estimated 
                to have been saved as a result of the recreational 
                boating safety programs established by the Federal Boat 
                Safety Act.

                However, despite these programs' successes, too many 
                boaters still die on our Nation's waters. Recreational 
                boating remains second only to highways in 
                transportation-related fatalities. Some boaters lack 
                basic boating safety knowledge and fail to adequately 
                prepare or exercise caution when boating. Though recent 
                accident statistics show improvement in many 
                categories, nearly 70 percent of all recreational 
                boating victims die by drowning. Nearly 90 percent of 
                these drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket. 
                Most of those lives could have been saved if the 
                victims had simply worn their life jackets.

                This year's North American Safe Boating Campaign, 
                highlighted during National Safe Boating Week, will 
                emphasize the theme of ``Boat Smart from the Start! 
                Wear Your Life Jacket!'' Many recreational boating 
                organizations promote safety through educational 
                programs, and I encourage those who will be on our 
                waterways to take advantage of these lessons. I also 
                urge all Americans who enjoy boating to wear their life 
                jackets and otherwise to conduct themselves responsibly 
                and safely.

                In recognition of the importance of safe boating 
                practices, the Congress, by joint resolution approved 
                June 4, 1958 (36 U.S.C. 131), as amended, has 
                authorized and requested the President to proclaim 
                annually the 7-day period prior to Memorial Day weekend 
                as ``National Safe Boating Week.''

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim May 19 through May 25, 2001, 
                as National Safe Boating Week. I encourage the 
                Governors of

[[Page 28050]]

                the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the 
                Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the officials of other 
                areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, 
                to join in observing this occasion and to urge 
                Americans to practice safe boating habits throughout 
                the year.

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

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 01-13056
Filed 5-21-01; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P