[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]


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  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