Supporting the goals of National Marina Day and urging marinas to continue providing environmentally friendly gateways to boating.

Mr. Speaker, I would say, if the gentleman would come to Lake Lanier in north Georgia, we have some fish big enough to ride in Lake Lanier. We will provide the saddles. Fishing rodeos are big business, and they attract a lot of people to the sport of fishing.

On August 14, we will celebrate the third annual National Marina Day. This annual celebration promotes the United States' 12,000 marinas and strives to educate all of us, politicians, civic leaders and the public, about the important roles that marinas play in the waterfront communities across America.

During the first year, 80 marinas in 23 States participated in National Marina Day. Last year, the celebration spread to 150 marinas in 25 States. This year again marks another significant opportunity to recognize marina operators and their industry's role and contributions to America's water recreation.

National Marina Day offers local marina operators the opportunity to host events to bring tens of thousands of people to our country's marinas. These marinas are gateways to boating and help maintain the natural environments that we enjoy.

In my district, Lake Lanier is home to 10 marinas, and I am proud to recognize Kirby Cay Scheimann of the Aqualand Marina in Flowery Branch, Georgia, as the National Marina Day chairman. The marinas in my district, like other marinas throughout the country, provide an economic investment in the lake, boat storage, boat events, and a wealth of local knowledge for visitors to the lake. These marinas serve in our State as the area's gateway to Georgia's Great Lake.

This resolution supports the goals of National Marina Day and recognizes the value marinas play as gateways to boating and as stewards of the environment. This resolution commends marinas as places where Americans can visit with family and friends and come together for recreation, rest, and relaxation.

Congress and all of us as Members of Congress are in a unique position to support these goals. When the National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers first used the word ``marina'' in 1928, it was defined simply as a recreational boating facility. Today, however, marinas are much more. They have become an integral part not only of American recreation, but also of American life. They are strong, vibrant communities of families and friends united by a shared passion for the water.

I urge adoption of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 647) supporting the goals of National Marina Day and urging marinas to continue providing environmentally friendly gateways to boating.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 647, which was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), proclaims the House of Representatives' support for the goals and ideals of National Marina Day and urges marina owners and operators to continue their strong stewardship of the marine environment so that this Nation's waters may be enjoyed by recreational boaters for generations to come.

August 14 is National Marina Day, and this is a perfect resolution to be considering in the week prior to the August recess. Throughout the country, Americans of every economic class are using their summer vacations to enjoy their own recreational boats or to charter time on professionally operated vessels.

The vast majority of boat owners do not have their own docks, and many boaters hire vessels rather than owning their own vessels. Therefore, without the Nation's 12,000 marinas and the services they provide, many of these boaters would be unable to maintain, operate, and enjoy their recreational boating. In turn, by providing dock space and services to the Nation's boat owners and operators, marinas provide 140,000 jobs and generate significant tax revenue.

As the resolution states, marinas are places where friends and families, united by a passion for the water, can come together for recreation, rest, and relaxation. Certainly in this summer season, we should support the goals and ideals of such places.

I want to commend our colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), for introducing this resolution. I urge our colleagues to cast an ``aye'' vote to support the goals and ideals of National Marina Day.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, in Ohio we always had trouble finding the little saddles necessary to accommodate the fish rodeos. They are very popular in Ohio as well.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), the author of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, the gentleman was inquiring about a fishing rodeo. That is catch-and-release fishery. You cast out and catch fish and weigh them.

Then you throw them back into the water, not throw them but you put them gently back into the water. You kiss the fish when you put it back in.

The gentleman from Ohio understands what is kissing the fish and putting it back in, especially in Lake Erie.

Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us recognizes National Marina Day on August 14, 2004.

There are more than 12,000 marinas in the United States providing safe harbor for millions of recreational vessels that operate on the lakes and navigable waters of the United States. These marinas include boatyards, yacht clubs, and public and private mooring basins across the United States. Marinas in the United States provide employment for more than 140,000 Americans.

Perhaps most importantly, marinas provide a means for millions of Americans to relax and enjoy themselves boating.

National Marina Day is a time to celebrate the history of marinas and boating and to look to the future of this vibrant industry. National Marina Day activities across the United States

will include environmental demonstrations, youth center events, fishing rodeos, boating safety demonstrations, and marina open houses.

National Marina Day is going to be celebrated from Maine to Florida; from Maryland to Los Angeles, CA. Marinas participating in the celebration include marinas from the Marriott Marina in San Diego to the Constitution Marina in Boston.

Marina owners are working closely with the United States Coast Guard to step up vigilance at their facilities to improve security on U.S. waterways. These efforts include looking out for aggressive activities, attempts to gain access to vessels without proper identification, fixtures attached to structures, unusual diving operations, and vehicles and vessels in unusual locations.

Mr. Speaker, it is fitting for the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize the ongoing contribution of marina operators in the United States to our economy, our security, our environment, and most of all, for providing us with a way of enjoying a day on the beautiful waterways of the United States.

I urge my colleagues to support the Resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I, too, rise in support of H. Res. 647, designating August 14 as National Marina Day. Like many Members of this House, I have a marina in my district. I am joined with all those who, over the United States, have 12,000 of them.

These marinas, of course, provide a home to millions of boats and provide millions of Americans with access to the ocean, bays, rivers, and lakes in the United States; and as we heard, they also provide jobs for over 140,000 of us.

When we are in our districts next month, we will likely see our constituents relaxing on the water because they have access to that water through the marina.

These marinas will be celebrating National Marina Day with boating safety demonstrations, environmental demonstrations, fishing rodeos, and marina open houses. What is a fishing rodeo? I wrote it, but I just do not know what I mean.

In a time of heightened security, marina owners across the Nation are working with the Coast Guard to help improve security on our waterways by keeping an eye out for aggressive tactics and unusual activities on the water. They are on the water everyday and know when something appears unusual, and they will call the Coast Guard.

So, Mr. Speaker, it is entirely fitting and appropriate for the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize the contributions that marinas make to maritime safety, our national economy, our national enjoyment.

I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 647, designating August 14 as National Marina Day.

I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota.

It is not riding them?

I thank the gentleman. I am glad I yielded to him.

I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Do I have to wear stirrups or whatever?

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 647, which expresses Congress's support of the goals of National Marina Day.

I would also like to recognize Mr. Marshall Funk of Marinas International for his work with Pier 121 Marina on Lake Lewisville, Scott's Landing Marina and Silver Lake Marina in Grapevine, and Twin Coves Marina in Flower Mound, located in my Congressional District.

National Marina Day will be celebrated this year on August 14. This annual celebration promotes the United States' marinas and recognizes the importance of marinas across the country. National Marina Day focuses on two central themes: the important role that marinas play as family-friendly and environmentally-friendly gateways to the water.

There are more than 12,000 marinas nationwide, which employ over 140,000 people. Marinas provide the public with a safe way to enjoy outdoor activities like sailing, cruising, and fishing.

I've spent many enjoyable hours boating with my family and, as a member of the Congressional Boating Caucus, I am glad to support House Resolution 647.