Presidential Documents

34375

Federal Register

Vol. 65, No. 103

Friday, May 26, 2000

Title 3—

The President

Proclamation 7312 of May 22, 2000

National Maritime Day, 2000

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Americans have always looked to the sea as a source of prosperity and

security. Bounded by two oceans and the Gulf of Mexico, with the Great

Lakes, the Saint Lawrence Seaway, scores of harbors, ports, and inlets,

and thousands of miles of inland river shorelines, our Nation has been

blessed with an unparalleled means of moving passengers and freight, protecting our freedom, and linking our citizens with the world.

Today, 95 percent of our imports and exports are moved by water—more

than one billion metric tons of cargo—and our waterways currently handle

140 million passengers a year. Our domestic fleet is one of our most productive and cost-effective modes of transportation, moving 24 percent of the

Nation’s cargo at less than 2 percent of America’s total freight cost. The

men and women of the U.S. Merchant Marine and the thousands of other

workers in our Nation’s maritime industry have made immeasurable contributions to our economic strength, standard of living, and leadership in the

global marketplace.

The U.S. Merchant Marine plays an equally important role in maintaining

our national security. In times of conflict or crisis, the Armed Forces rely

upon the Merchant Marine’s sealift capability to transport critically needed

equipment and supplies. Time and again, American mariners have demonstrated their willingness and ability to meet often daunting challenges.

From World War II to Korea to Vietnam, from Desert Storm to the Balkans

and in numerous incidents in between, the U.S. Merchant Marine has responded with courage, patriotism, and a steadfast devotion to duty.

The 21st century will hold new challenges for our maritime industry, including an anticipated doubling of cargo and passenger traffic in the next two

decades. If we are to meet those challenges, we must maintain a robust

U.S.-flag fleet, crewed by American mariners. Last September, the Secretary

of Transportation presented to the Congress a blueprint for modernizing

our Marine Transportation System—the waterways, ports, railways, and roads

that move people and goods to, from, and on the water. We must build

more and better ships, modernize our shipyards, create deeper ports for

today’s ever larger containerships and ocean liners, and maintain a skilled

maritime workforce. We must also ensure that local, State, and Federal

agencies, the U.S. military, the maritime industry, shippers, labor unions,

environmental groups, and other concerned organizations work in partnership

to carry out this blueprint.

As we celebrate National Maritime Day this year, we also mark the 50th

anniversary of the U.S. Maritime Administration. Throughout the past five

decades, the dedicated men and women of this agency have worked to

improve the competitiveness of our maritime industry in world markets

and to strengthen our ability to respond swiftly and effectively in times

of crisis. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I salute these outstanding public

servants for their commitment to the U.S. Merchant Marine and to the

shipbuilding, repair services, ports, and intermodal water and land transportation systems they need to function efficiently.

34376 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 103 / Friday, May 26, 2000 / Presidential Documents

In recognition of the importance of the U.S. Merchant Marine to our Nation’s

prosperity and security, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May

20, 1933, has designated May 22 of each year as ‘‘National Maritime Day’’

and has authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation calling for its appropriate observance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the United States

of America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 2000, as National Maritime Day.

I urge all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities and by displaying the flag of the United States in

their homes and in their communities. I also request that all merchant

ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on that day.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second

day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Independence

[FR Doc. 00–13499

Filed 5–25–00; 8:45 am]

Billing code 3195–01–P

of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth.

œ–