To commend the American Sail Training Association for its advancement of character building under sail and for its advancement of international goodwill.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might consume.

I rise in very strong support of this resolution.

House Resolution 197 recognizes the contribution of the American Sail Training Association. Tall ships remind us of our proud maritime history and our heritage. Through this Association, many, many young people get an opportunity to train aboard these vessels and to gain important leadership experience.

Sailing provides a great opportunity, a wonderful opportunity, to be outside, to be out in nature, enjoying our Nation's bountiful natural resources. Moreover, it's an opportunity for individuals to learn the value of teamwork, and it provides a personal competitive challenge for each member of the crew as they attempt to match their sailing skills against those of the other boats and Mother Nature. There's actually nothing like it.

I speak from some personal experience, Madam Speaker. Actually, my family was in the marina business. I sold sailboats before I ever became involved in public service. It was our family business. It was the way we made our living. It was our family hobby.

In fact, some of my fondest memories include participating in what are some of the marquis freshwater sailing regattas in the Great Lakes, of which I am happy to represent a district from, such as the Port Huron to Mackinac race, of which I have raced in 29 of them. Actually, after you race 25, they induct you into something called the Old Goat Society, or, in my case, I am an old nanny goat. I think I am the only old nanny goat in the United States Congress, as well as participating in the Chicago-to-Mackinac freshwater race as well.

Since 1973, the American Sail Training Association has been introducing young people to the world of sailing, specifically on tall ships. Madam Speaker, these experiences instill the values of hard work, leadership, appreciation for our environment, and cooperation as well, all attributes which will serve young people very well throughout their lifetime.

This summer, the American Sail Training Association is going to be partnering with Great Lakes United, which will bring a fleet of international tall ships actually into the Great Lakes. As these vessels sail through the world's largest body of fresh water, in fact, the Great Lakes are fully one-fifth or 20 percent of the fresh water supply of the entire planet, they will be calling on various ports throughout the Great Lakes to promote stewardship of the Great Lakes and the educational benefits of sailing.

Again, as one who has sailed throughout the Great Lakes, I know that the young people who participate in this venture will be astounded by the majesty as well as the challenges that they will face from a sailing and a boating perspective on the Great Lakes.

I certainly commend the American Sail Training Association for their work to promote the continued display and use of these majestic ships, as well as their efforts to provide a platform to advance historical and environmental awareness also and, of course, development of leadership skills amongst our young people.

In closing, I would just say that there are few things, Madam Speaker, more moving or majestic that speak to us of our proud maritime heritage than when we see the tall ships. Who can forget, certainly in our Nation's bicentennial, when the tall ships came into New York Harbor, going by the Statue of Liberty, really speaks to what America is certainly all about, I think.

This resolution recognizes an organization that allows young people to experience these tall ships. I would urge my colleagues to support it.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 197) to commend the American Sail Training Association for its advancement of character building under sail and for its advancement of international goodwill, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 197.

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

Introduced by Congressman Kennedy, H. Res. 197 commends the American Sail Training Association, ASTA, for its work creating opportunities for young people to sail on traditionally rigged sailing vessels and for its work representing the United States in international sail training fora.

Barclay Warburton III founded ASTA in 1973. After he participated in a tall ships race held in Europe, he was inspired to form an organization in the United States that would be dedicated to supporting character building through sail training and promoting sail training to the North American public.

Over the past nearly four decades, ASTA has carried on his vision by working to instill a love of sea in the next generation. The organization gives young people the chance to sail on tall ships and supports professional development among the crew members who work on tall ships. ASTA also organizes tall ship races and associated maritime festivals such as the Tall Ships Challenge Series.

These festivals give young people interested in sailing the chance to experience life on tall ships. They have also enabled millions of spectators to experience the majesty of tall ships and have created significant economic benefits in the coastal communities in which they have been held.

I note that the United States Coast Guard Cutter Eagle was used to train cadets at the Coast Guard Academy on the principles of seamanship. It's just one of the many vessels that has worked extensively with ASTA and participated in many ASTA sailing events.

ASTA's work is critical to preserving our Nation's rich maritime heritage and ensuring that its traditions are passed on to the next generation. Madam Speaker, as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, I urge the adoption of H. Res. 197 of the House today and commend the good work of my friend, Congressman Kennedy, on this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I just wanted to close here and just say that I agree with the gentlelady with regard to tall ships. Being from the port city of Baltimore, we've had the opportunity to see the tall ships and to see what sailing has done for our country. I think this is an outstanding resolution, and so I would move for the adoption of it and suggest that all Members vote for it.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 197, as amended, introduced by the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy), commending the American Sail Training Association for its advancement of character building under sail and for its advancement of international goodwill.

In 1972, Barclay Warburton III, of Newport, Rhode Island, his two sons, and several friends sailed the brigantine Black Pearl across the Atlantic to participate in a tall ships race from England to Sweden. Mr. Warburton was inspired by the enthusiasm and spirit of the young people who participated in the race and, in 1973, he established the American Sail Training Association, ASTA, to provide similar experiences for young people in the United States.

Today, ASTA is a respected nonprofit organization with a mission to encourage character building under sail.

ASTA provides young people with experiences aboard traditionally rigged sail training vessels, and manages scholarship and grant programs. ASTA also organizes and participates in tall ships races and maritime festivals involving vessels and crews from all coasts of the United States and from around the world.

ASTA supports more than 200 training vessels of many types from the United States, Canada, and other nations. Each year, ASTA also supports more than 30 annual sail training conferences throughout the United States and Canada. ASTA also publishes ``Sail Tall Ships'', a periodic directory of sail training opportunities.

ASTA collaborates extensively with the United States Coast Guard and the USCG Eagle to conduct many of its sail training programs.

As the United States' representative in, and a founding member of, Sail Training International, STI, the international body promoting sail training, ASTA recently collaborated with STI and port partners around the Atlantic Ocean to create the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009: a 7,000-mile trip around the Atlantic over the traditional routes followed by ships during the age of sail.

I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island for introducing this resolution to commend the American Sail Training Association.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 197.