Recognizing the innumerable contributions of the recreational boating community and the boating industry to the continuing prosperity and affluence of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to commend the distinguished chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Mr. Oberstar) for his support of House Resolution 505 and for his leadership on the committee. These days we face mounting challenges to improve our infrastructure and protect our highways and waterways from expanding populations and from terrorist attacks. Personally, I can think of no other person better qualified to lead this important committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 505 to highlight the important contribution of the recreational boating community and the boating industry to our quality of life and to our continued economic prosperity and to urge the President to issue a proclamation calling upon the American people to observe National Boating Day.

Boating is a famous symbol for south Florida, where I am from. Millions of residents and tourists take to the waters of south Florida by boat to fish, dive, snorkel, and view scenic tours along our pristine coastline and unique intracoastal waterway. Palm Beach County alone has over 40,000 registered boaters, and Ft. Lauderdale's majestic canals have earned it the nickname the ``Venice of America.''

But the significance of the boating community is not only symbolic. The recreational marine industry is a major economic force in Florida, responsible for over $18 billion of revenues and 220,000 jobs statewide. And I should note that $13 billion of the economic impact and 162,000 of those jobs as well as almost half of the industry's gross sales come from the tri-county region of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties.

As many of our colleagues know, the contributions of the recreational boating community extend far beyond the Sunshine State. The boating population exceeds 73 million individuals in our country and an estimated 18 million recreational watercraft. In addition, the recreational boating industry provides more than $39 billion in sales and services to the U.S. economy and provides nearly 380,000 manufacturing jobs. Altogether there are approximately 1,400 active boat builders in the United States with contributions from all 50 States.

One need only look at the geographic diversity among members of our Congressional Boating Caucus, of which I am a proud member, to measure the broad influence and contributions of the boating community and the boating industry to our country and the quality of our life. Members come from 38 States, including Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and West Virginia. Clearly, boating is not just a coastal pastime; it is an American pastime.

In addition, boating also brings us closer to our national treasures. I strongly believe that an appreciation for environmental stewardship comes through interacting with nature. For example, it is hard to comprehend the beauty of coral reefs until you see them underwater with your own eyes.

Once you do, you begin to understand their importance and the need to protect them for the continued health of our oceans.

Boating gives us these cherished opportunities to commune with nature. It should be no surprise that boaters can be impassioned stewards of the environment, teaching future generations of boaters a healthy respect and appreciation for our natural resources.

It is for these and other reasons that I introduced House Resolution 505, recognizing the contributions of the recreational boating community and the boating industry to the continuing prosperity and affluence of the United States. This resolution calls upon President Bush to issue a proclamation to observe National Boating Day with an appropriate time being July 1.

I was happy to have so many of our colleagues from the Boating Caucus join me in supporting this resolution, including the distinguished co- chairs of the caucus, the Honorable Gene Taylor from Mississippi and the Honorable Candice Miller from Michigan. I am sure that they can attest that boating is an integral part of our economy and our quality of life not just for those along the coast but for the entire country.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud my colleagues for adopting this resolution today and recognizing the contributions of recreational boating and the boating industry.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 505, recognizing the

contributions of the recreational boating community and the boating industry to the prosperity of the United States. This resolution, introduced by my colleague Ron Klein, is an important way to highlight the vital role that the boating industry plays in the U.S. economy: it generates more than $39,000,000,000 annually as it provides 380,000 American jobs.

However, I also rise to draw the House's attention to the serious problem of propeller injuries associated with recreational boating. A typical three blade propeller running at 3,200 rpm can inflict 9,600 impacts on the human body in just one minute, and a 13-inch blade can travel from head to toe on a person of average height in less than one tenth of a second. Given the speed at which these propellers turn, it is no surprise that propeller injuries frequently result in dismemberment and death.

According to the United States Coast Guard Annual Boating Statistics Reports, there were 239 accidents involving propellers in 2005 alone. Thirty-one of these injuries were fatal, and the rest were typically very severe. Sadly, the number of propeller accidents may even be larger than the report describes. The Coast Guard acknowledges that many boating accidents go unreported, either because victims are unaware of regulations requiring them to report or because the trauma of an accident leaves them little time to think about reporting.

I commend the efforts of the brave men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard, but I recognize that they lack the resources or manpower to maintain accurate records of recreational boating accidents. A 1992 study carried out by Johns Hopkins University found that, compared to the average one hundred propeller-related accidents reported by the Coast Guard; each year between 1976 and 1990, the actual number may have been closer to 2,000 to 3,000 per year.

As we rise to honor the contributions of the recreational boating community, we must also commit to doing more to protect the members of that community. We must pay special attention to children and young adults, the boating community's most vulnerable members, who sustain 40 percent of all propeller injuries.

When considering how we might reduce propeller injuries, one potential area of improvement lies in the make-up of the National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC), which consults with the U.S. Coast Guard in setting federal regulations. Ensuring that a sufficient portion of the NBSAC membership has no direct or indirect financial ties to the boating industry would be a step toward ensuring the airing of a diversity of views and improving the efficacy of the consultations and resulting federal regulations.

I invite my colleagues to take this opportunity to learn more about propeller injuries and to consider how we might work together to minimize them while continuing to support this vital industry.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 505) recognizing the innumerable contributions of the recreational boating community and the boating industry to the continuing prosperity and affluence of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 505, which recognizes the contributions made by recreational boating community to our national economy, and calls on the President to issue a proclamation to observe National Boating Day.

There are now more than 13 million recreational boats registered in the United States. These boats support some 380,000 jobs in the U.S. and generate an estimated $39 billion to the U.S. economy. They depend on 12,000 marinas across the waterways of the United States for essential services.

Impressive as they are, however, these numbers do not begin to reveal the many contributions that boating makes to recreational life in the United States.

Boating offers people the chance to catch up with family and friends while watching the world float by, to introduce their children to the natural environment, and to slow down and enjoy a relaxing weekend on a vacation away from home.

Perhaps not surprisingly, a survey conducted by the National Marine Manufacturers Association found that boating was among the top three stress-relieving activities among survey respondents.

Recreational boating is also far more accessible than many may assume. More than 90 percent of Americans live less than an hour's drive from a body of water on which recreational boating can be undertaken.

Because of boating's importance to our Nation, the United States already observes many days to honor different aspects of the boating industry. For example, on August 11, the United States will observe National Marina Day. During the week prior to Memorial Day, we observe National Safe Boating Week, intended to remind boaters of the need to practice safe boating habits and to use personal flotation devices while on the water.

The message of National Safe Boating Week bears repeating. In 2005, nearly 5,000 boating accidents resulted in just under 3,500 injuries and nearly 700 deaths, the vast majority of which were caused by accidental drowning that could have been prevented if those who fell in the water had been wearing life jackets.

H. Res. 505 now calls on the President to set aside a day specifically to honor recreational boating and the boating industry. I believe such recognition is due to the pastime of boating, and I commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Klein) for introducing this resolution and supporting a wonderful activity in our country.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to the gentlelady from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) such time as she may consume.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 505, to highlight the important contribution of the recreational boating community and the boating industry to our way of life, and to call upon the President to issue a proclamation asking the American people to observe National Boating Day.

As a Representative of Florida's 20th Congressional District, I can attest to the important contribution recreational boating and the boating industry has had upon South Florida's economy and quality of life. The marine industry is responsible for more than $18 billion of revenues and 220,000 jobs in Florida.

Recreational boating is integral to the way of life in Florida. From fishing to snorkeling to scuba driving in our beautiful coral reefs, or simply taking a scenic cruise through Florida's intra-coastal waterways, recreational boating and South Florida go hand in hand.

In fact, recreational boating is such an important part of Ft. Lauderdale that the city has earned the well-deserved nickname, the ``Venice of America.''

But the contributions of the recreational boating community go far beyond my home State. The boating population exceeds 73 million individuals utilizing and enjoying an estimated 18 million recreational watercraft. In addition, the recreational boating industry provides more than $39 billion in sales and services to the U.S. economy, and provides nearly 380,000 manufacturing jobs.

Boating helps to bring us closer to the wonders of nature, and it helps us to appreciate the need to be goods stewards of our natural resources.

It's no surprise that boaters often are some of our most ardent conservationists, because they see firsthand the importance of protecting our fragile ecosystem for generations to come.

It's for these reasons that I rise in support of H. Res. 505, recognizing the contributions of the recreational boating community and the boating industry to the continuing prosperity and affluence of the United States. This resolution calls upon the President to issue a proclamation to observe National Boating Day, with an appropriate day being July 1.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 505 and vote for its final passage.

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

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 505 recognizes and commends the recreational boating community and the boating industry for their contributions to the economy of the United States, the well-being of the United States citizens, and responsible environmental stewardship of the marine resources of the United States.

There are more than 73 million individuals that make up the recreational boating community in the United States. This important industry generates more than $39 billion annually in the United States economy, and provides jobs for 380,000 citizens of the United States.

While the industry and the community are important parts of our national economy, these individuals also play an important role in conserving our natural resources for future generations' enjoyment. Recreational boaters act as stewards of the marine environment of the United States and take lead and hands-on roles in educating future generations of the value of these resources.

The legislation also encourages the President to mark the importance of the recreational boating community and industries by establishing July 1 as National Boating Day. It is fitting that we consider this resolution so closely to the Fourth of July, when tens of thousands will be enjoying our Nation's inland and coastal waters aboard recreational vessels.

I commend the resolution's sponsor, Mr. Klein of Florida, and all the measure's cosponsors for introducing the legislation, and I join them in urging all Members to support the resolution.

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