[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 24, 2023)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 33531-33532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-11209]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 100 / Wednesday, May 24, 2023 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 33531]]
Proclamation 10586 of May 19, 2023
National Maritime Day, 2023
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
On National Maritime Day, we honor the thousands of
dedicated merchant mariners who serve on United States
vessels around the world. During times of both peace
and war, merchant mariners are always there--stepping
up to transport equipment, troops, and goods across the
globe to make our country safer and stronger.
With professionalism and passion, merchant mariners
have forged us into the maritime Nation we are today.
During the Revolutionary War, merchant vessels joined
the vastly outnumbered American fleet to help defend
our independence. During World War II, as our brave
service members battled the forces of fascism, more
than a quarter-million members of the Merchant Marine
volunteered to transport tanks, ammunition, and troops
across the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Many of them
made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of freedom.
And today, merchant mariners not only help move
hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of cargo through
our 25,000 miles of waterways and more than 360
commercial ports annually--they also crew vessels of
our United States Ready Reserve, shipping vital
military cargo to help the people of Ukraine defend
themselves against Russia's brutal war.
My Administration remains steadfast in its support of
the Merchant Marine as well as the Jones Act, which
ensures American workers see the benefits of our
domestic maritime industry. We are also making historic
investments to improve our maritime supply chains by
making it easier, faster, cheaper, cleaner, and safer
for ships to get in and out of our ports. We are
strengthening our support for licensed Merchant Marine
Officers, including requesting $196 million in my 2024
Budget to upgrade the United States Merchant Marine
Academy's campus, expand training, and help prevent
sexual assault and support survivors--because every
person at the Academy deserves to feel safe and have
their contributions fully valued. We are also working
to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the
ranks of the Merchant Marine because our economy and
national security are strongest when we draw on the
full skillsets and diversity of our Nation.
The United States Merchant Marine underpins our
Nation's prosperity and upholds our Nation's highest
principles--freedom, liberty, and dignity. Today, and
every day, we honor merchant mariners' service and
sacrifice and renew our commitment to stand by their
side, from sea to shining sea.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20,
1933, has designated May 22 of each year as ``National
Maritime Day'' to commemorate the first transoceanic
voyage by a steamship in 1819 by the S.S. Savannah. By
this resolution, the Congress has authorized and
requested the President to issue annually a
proclamation calling for its appropriate observance. I
also request that all ships sailing under the American
flag dress ship on that day.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of
the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May
22, 2023, as National Maritime Day. I call upon all
Americans to observe this day and to celebrate the
United
[[Page 33532]]
States Merchant Marine and maritime industry with
appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
seventh.
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2023-11209
Filed 5-23-23; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F3-P