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

I thank my friend and colleague from Wisconsin for his leadership on Transportation and for the time to speak on this bill.

As a member of the Boating Caucus, since we first formed this, I am really pleased to be supportive of this resolution. In northeast Indiana, basically, I represent a lot of water with plants and farms in between.

In Kosciusko County, we have 100 lakes. In Steuben County, we have 100 lakes. Along this ridge, one water system heads towards Lake Erie; one water system heads towards Lake Michigan, and the other goes down into the Mississippi Valley. Because of geological potholes basically connected together, sometimes through small dams and sometimes in natural larger lakes, we have the bulk of the lakes in Indiana. It is when the glaciers pulled back. So in this zone, I would guess we may have 40 to 60 percent of the natural lakes in the State of Indiana. Some have been, historically in United States' history, big attractions, not necessarily as big a tourist attraction as in Florida or as in Wisconsin or, for that matter, as in Washington State, but Winona Lake was a big Chautauqua area.

In Kosciusko County, we have a number of State parks on these lakes, and so we're proud to bring in lots of regional tourism and people who enjoy them. They're sometimes lined up to get to the open space on our lakes in Indiana.

Yet, as the number one manufacturing district in the United States--I can't remember the latest figures--I believe we're fifth in the manufacturing of boats. Many of those boats go down to Florida and to the coasts. The inboard-outboard engine and the jet engine were both invented in my district, working with Volvo in Sweden. Many of the larger boat companies are based there--everything from float boats to fishing boats to high-powered speedboats. It is a critical part of our district. It has been a pleasure to work with the boating industry as we work on how to get retail floor plan financing for boats.

We hear a lot right now about GM and Chrysler--the auto companies. I represent Elkhart County, along with Congressman Joe Donnelly. We've been working to make sure of the RV industry, 58 percent of which is there; but if you'll notice and look carefully at the retail floor plan financing and at SBA and at what they've done through TALF and other things, you'll see it says cars, trucks, RVs, motorcycles, and boats, because the same challenge that we're facing in the auto industry is true for the boating industry, which is how do we make sure there are adequate boats being purchased from manufacturers; how do we make sure there is the financing to keep them afloat, and then how do we make sure of the dealers. If they can only get one-fourth of their normal inventory there, here in this peak season for selling boats, it isn't going to work.

So this is a very unusual time and an important time for the boating industry. Not only are we entering the summer season in the Great Lakes region and in other areas of the country where boating and recreation are at a peak, but it's also a time of survival. It is probably the biggest challenge to the boat manufacturers since the luxury tax nearly sunk them years ago.

So I stand, honored to speak on behalf of this resolution because it's very important that we call to the attention of the American people not only the great pleasures of recreational boating but also the importance of having our boating industry survive.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen) for yielding me time, and I also want to commend him for his leadership on this important issue.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 410, a resolution I introduced with my friend from South Carolina, the Honorable Henry Brown, along with the distinguished co-Chairs of the Congressional Boating Caucus, the Honorable Gene Taylor from Mississippi and the Honorable Candice Miller from Michigan.

Our resolution highlights the important contributions of the recreational boating community and the boating industry as to the quality of our lives and as to our continued economic prosperity. I urge President Obama to issue a proclamation calling upon the American people to observe July 1 as National Boating Day.

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

The significance of the boating community is not only symbolic. The industry is a major economic engine in Florida, responsible for over $2.8 billion in direct sales and for 30,000 jobs State-wide. In my district alone, there are over 34,000 registered boats. The industry produces $193 million, and it employs over 2,000 of my constituents.

As everyone here knows, the contributions of the boating community extend far beyond the Sunshine State. The boating community includes 59 million people and 13.6 million registered boats throughout the United States. In addition, the recreational boating industry provides more than $37 billion in sales and in services to the U.S. economy, and it provides over 300,000 jobs throughout our country.

One need only look at the geographic diversity among members of the Congressional Boating Caucus, of which I am a proud member, to measure the broad influence and contributions of the boating community and of the boating industry. Members come from 33 States, including Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and West Virginia.

Clearly, boating is not just a coastal pastime. It is an American pastime. Boating also brings us closer to our natural resources and treasures. I strongly believe that an appreciation for environmental stewardship comes through an interaction with nature. For example, it's hard to comprehend the beauty of our coral reefs until you see it under water with your own eyes through a boat. 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, and it should be no surprise that boaters can be impassioned stewards of the environment, teaching future generations of boaters to have a healthy respect and appreciation for our natural resources.

For these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 410, and I thank the gentleman from Washington again for bringing H. Res. 410 to the floor.

I urge its passage.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 410. This resolution commends the recreational boating industry and boating community for their sizable contribution to the economy of United States, and for their stewardship of the environment.

There are more than 59 million boaters in the United States today, helping to generate $33 billion dollars annually in economic activity. As a result, the boating industry supports an estimated 337,000 employees, who manufacture and sell boats and operate the harbors and marinas. The goods and services purchased to build and maintain boats come from each of the fifty states. Therefore, boating does not only help the water regions of our country, but benefits America as a whole.

That having been said, the boating industry and community are especially important to Michigan and to Michigan's economy. They provide invaluable assets to my district, which has Lakes Huron and St. Clair and the St. Clair River on its eastern border. Boating is not just an important recreational opportunity; for many, life on the water becomes a way of life. The impact of boating spills over into other sectors of the economy like tourism and hospitality industries.

Unfortunately, when the economy falters, it is often the recreational boating industry that feels the impact first. Many people think of boating as a recreation for only the rich, but in Michigan we know that is simply not the case. The people who make the boating industry what it is are the working class individuals who spend their weekends out on the water with friends and family. When those people face economic challenges, you will find that the boating industry does as well.

In this climate, the boating industry is facing some difficult times, nowhere more difficult than in the state of Michigan. In Michigan, we were once the number one state in terms of total boat registrations, but we have since slipped to fourth. Given the challenges that have faced the Michigan economy over the last few years, this is no surprise. The boat manufacturers, dealers, and marina operators should all be commended for their efforts to keep going through this economic period.

Since coming to Congress, I have worked to promote issues that are important to maintaining a thriving and profitable boating industry. I am proud to co-chair of the Congressional Boating Caucus with Gene Taylor, and together we have worked on a number of issues to help the boating industry weather the storms that have come its way. This resolution will acknowledge the contributions of the boating industry as they fight through this difficult time.

I urge all of you to please join with me in supporting this bi- partisan initiative to recognize our boaters and recommend that President Obama issue a proclamation calling for the observation of National Boating Day.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 410) recognizing the numerous contributions of the recreational boating community and the boating industry to the continuing prosperity and affluence of the United States.

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 House Resolution 410.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 410, recognizing the numerous contributions of the recreational boating community and the boating industry to the continuing prosperity and affluence of the United States.

This bipartisan resolution was introduced by Representatives Ron Klein of Florida and Henry Brown of South Carolina, along with the co- Chairs of the Congressional Boating Caucus, Representatives Gene Taylor of Mississippi and Candice Miller of Michigan.

House Resolution 410 honors the 59 million boaters in the United States. As evidenced by the bipartisan cosponsors of this resolution, American boaters span all across the country, including my constituents in Washington State who take to the waters of the Puget Sound.

Boating provides a great activity for thousands of families, Mr. Speaker, on our lakes and certainly on our great coasts--to fish, to dive, to snorkel or to simply enjoy America's stunning natural marine resources.

Boating isn't just a recreational activity. The boating industry is one of America's great industries that includes about 1,400 active boat builders in the United States, including many in my district, using materials and services contributed from all 50 States. These are American jobs that are creating a uniquely American product. Additional jobs include electricians, carpenters, painters, and engineers who work to repair or to refit recreational vessels--along with all the crew members and employees at our many marinas and harbors.

When taken together, boating in America generates more than $33 million annually for our economy, and it provides 337,000 jobs, totaling $10.4 billion in wages every year. For these reasons, I am urging my colleagues to support House Resolution 410.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield 4 minutes to the cosponsor of this resolution, Mr. Klein of Florida.

Mr. Speaker, we have no further speakers. So, at this point, I will reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 410, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise in support of House Resolution 410, a resolution recognizing the recreational boating community and industries.

I now recognize for as much time as he may consume our colleague from South Carolina, Mr. Henry Brown.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to our colleague from Indiana, Representative Souder.

Mr. Speaker, I fully support House Resolution 410, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 410, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Klein), which recognizes the recreational boating community and boating industry for their contributions to the national economy and urges the President to issue a proclamation to observe July 1, 2009 as National Boating Day.

In the United States, the boating community consists of over 59 million people and over 13 million registered recreational boats. The boating community supports over 330,000 American jobs with total wages totaling approximately $10.4 billion a year. There are approximately 1400 boat builders in the United States that construct and repair boats using materials and services from all 50 States. In addition, recreational boating and the boating industry

contribute over $33 billion to the American economy annually.

In my state of Minnesota, there are over 866,000 registered boats-- the third largest number of boats of any state in the country. In fact, Minnesota has the most boats per capita of any state: there is one boat for every six people.

Whether it is on the river, a lake, along the ocean, inter-coastal or intra-coastal waterway, recreational boaters support and depend on over 12,000 marinas all across the United States.

Recreational boating is an American pas-time. It is a family activity that appeals to all age groups and is a constructive outlet for entertainment. Whether water skiing, snorkeling, fishing, or just relaxing on the water, boating is a perfect reason to turn off the television and put away the video games and to bring families and friends closer together. For these reasons, July 1, 2009, should be established as National Boating Day.

I support H. Res. 410, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.