Recognizing the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the National Safe Boating Council for their efforts to promote National Safe Boating Week.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 243) recognizing the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the National Safe Boating Council for their efforts to promote National Safe Boating Week.

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

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 243 was introduced by my colleagues, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cooper) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), and recognizes the work of the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the National Safe Boating Council in promoting boat safety.

I represent a district in which recreational boating plays a huge role in the lives of many of my constituents. Sailors, waters sports enthusiasts, and fishermen enjoy recreational boating on the Chesapeake Bay and the ocean side of my district.

Recreational boating is one of the Nation's most popular pastimes, and while the number of recreational boating fatalities has declined by more than half since 1970, many lives are still lost each year. More than half of these lives could be saved with the proper use of boating safety equipment. This resolution highlights the importance of safe recreational boating, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for sponsoring this piece of legislation as well. I would like to reiterate some of the comments that the gentleman made about boat safety, and that is when you get in a boat, it is like getting in a car. Do not drink and drive; do not drink and boat. Snap your safety belt in the car; put your life jacket on in the boat. Respect the people in your boat and respect other people in their boats; and respect the ecosystem that you are now treading on.

When you go out in a boat, enjoy yourself, enjoy the people that you are around, and enjoy the pristine nature of that particular environment. Boat Safety Week hopes to motivate people to understand the nature of their responsibility when they step in a boat, whether it is one with a big, powerful engine; whether it is a small motor boat; or I would recommend you try a kayak and canoe.

Of course, wear your life jacket regardless, respect yourself, respect your passengers, respect other boaters, and respect the pristine nature of the water.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time, and urge the adoption of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I, too, represent an area where boating is a very important recreational activity, representing San Diego, California, with its wonderful bay, Mission Bay Park, and, of course, the Pacific Ocean, all as places where tens of thousands of people do their recreation; so I also support House Resolution 243.

This is National Safe Boating Week. Over 70 million people this year will participate in recreational boating activities in the United States. Unfortunately, about 700 of them will die from boating accidents. National Safe Boating Week is always the week before the Memorial day weekend, the start of the summer boating season. The goal this week is to educate the public about what they can do to enjoy our Nation's waters in a safe manner. In my State of California, two-thirds of the deaths from recreational boating accidents will occur during these summers months.

Mr. Speaker, safe boating begins before you even step in a boat by planning your trip and being safety conscious. The most important thing a boater can do to save their life is to wear a life jacket. That sounds simple; but in 2003, 416 boaters were drowned while not wearing their life jackets. Today there are Coast Guard-approved life jackets that are inflatable so you can easily sail and still be safe.

Just as in driving a car, alcohol and boating do not mix. Do not drink and drive in a boat.

Today there are over 17 million boats in our Nation's waterways. It is getting crowded, so everybody should know and follow the nautical rules of the road. If you are in a small boat, do not stand up. You could flip your boat, sending you and your family into the water.

Mr. Speaker, these are simple, but they are a few of the basic tips that people should follow to have a safe and enjoyable time when they are boating.

The Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the National Safe Boating Council have boating safety education programs to help everyone learn how to boat safely. I encourage everyone to take advantage of these courses. If you follow their simple guidelines, you can have a fun and relaxing time while being as safe as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to join us in support of House Resolution 243.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 243, a bill recognizing the Coast guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the National Safe Boating Council for their efforts to promote National Safe Boating Week.

In my district on Eastern Long Island, water safety is of paramount concern to residents, vacationers, and the tourism industry--one of the most important contributing elements of the local economy, which includes pleasure and commercial boating.

I commend the men and women of the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the National Safe Boating Council for their steadfast dedication to protecting boaters throughout the country. As we approach Memorial Day, kicking off the summer, we recognize National Safe Boating Week to encourage American boaters to be safe on the water and to promote the use of personal flotation devices (PFDs).

It is important to highlight the progress made to safeguard boating enthusiasts in recent years, particularly with more than 13 million watercraft registered in the U.S., a number that continues to skyrocket. Even with the ever-increasing number of people enjoying the water, there are fewer fatalities on the sea. This is in no small part due to the diligence of

hard-working groups like the National Safe Boating Council and the selfless, intrepid men and women of the Coast Guard.

As vacationers throughout the country head for the coasts, it is our responsibility to encourage caution. I echo the National Safe Boating Council's important message urging all Americans to be safe on the water while they enjoy their family vacations this summer.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and support the efforts of the United States Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the National Safe Boating Council as they coordinate yet another successful National Safe Boating Week, May 21-27, 2005.

In 2003, an estimated 78 million Americans enjoyed recreational boating on the approximately 13 million recreational vessels registered throughout the nation. Boating has truly become a treasured piece of American culture.

Thanks to the efforts of many, boating is becoming safer as it grows more popular. Boating fatalities have been cut in half since the 1970's due to increased boater education, more widespread use of life vests, and safer boating equipment.

Nonetheless, we have much work to do. In 2003, 703 Americans died in boating-related accidents. Sadly, half of these deaths could have been prevented had proper flotation devices been used.

I have co-sponsored, along with Representative Jim Cooper and Representative Gene Taylor, House Resolution 243, which aims at increasing boating safety education and accident prevention and supports the goals of National Safe Boating Week. As Co-Founder and Co- Chairman of the Congressional Boating Caucus, I certainly understand the importance of these issues on recreational boaters.

Mr. Speaker, the upcoming Memorial Day holiday marks the unofficial start of the summer boating season in South Florida. As such, we must continue to support boating education and awareness so that our waters can be a fun and, above all, safe place for all Americans to enjoy.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 243.