HRES243MAY27

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending May 27, 2005

House Resolution 243 recognizing the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the National Safe Boating Council for their efforts to promote National Safe Boating Week.

BRIEF

78 million Americans are boaters using 13 million boats, so the odds of an accident are high but thanks to the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary boaters are well informed, have increased their use of life jackets, baiting safety education and find that the boating laws are well enforced.

Half of the 703 lives lost in 2003 could have been saved if the proper floatation device was used, the Resolution preamble said.

Sponsor: Representative Jim Cooper (D-TN-5^th)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote (May 23, 2005)

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

MORE INFORMATION

Whereas recreational boating is one of our Nation's most popular pastimes, with an estimated 78,000,000 recreational boaters in the United States and nearly 13,000,000 recreational vessels registered;

Whereas the number of recreational boating fatalities has declined by more than half since 1970, thanks to the increased use of life jackets, cooperative boating safety education, enforcement efforts between the Coast Guard and State governments, and safer vessels and equipment manufactured in accordance with Coast Guard standards;

Whereas recreational boating accidents have nevertheless claimed the lives of 703 Americans in 2003, more than half of whose lives could have been saved with the proper use of a personal flotation device;

Whereas a continued emphasis on accident prevention can reduce recreational boating fatalities still further, and in particular deaths by drowning, which remain the leading cause of recreational boating fatalities; and

Whereas the National Safe Boating Council, with the support of the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary, has proposed designating the week of May 21 through 27, 2005, as National Safe Boating Week: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) supports initiatives for recreational boating safety education and accident prevention to minimize the number of annual recreational boating fatalities;

(2) recognizes the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the National Safe Boating Council for their efforts each year during May to highlight the importance of safe recreational boating; and

(3) supports the goals of National Safe Boating Week.

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