[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 20 (Monday, May 21, 2001)]
[Pages 764-765]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
 Proclamation 7440--National Safe Boating Week, 2001

 May 17, 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 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.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., May 21, 
2001]

  Note:  This proclamation was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on May 18, and it will be published in the  Federal Register  
on May 22.

[[Page 765]]