Presidential Documents

28049

Federal Register

Vol. 66, No. 99

Tuesday, May 22, 2001

Title 3—

The President

Proclamation 7440 of May 17, 2001

National Safe Boating Week, 2001

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Over 70 million recreational boaters enjoy our Nation’s waters, and the

national economic impact of recreational boating is more than $25 billion

each year. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the

Federal Boat Safety Act. This legislation, designed to improve boating safety

and to foster greater use and enjoyment of our rivers, lakes, bays, and

waters, has accomplished these goals. By encouraging the participation of

States, local communities, industry, and the boating public, new generations

of Americans have benefited from the development of comprehensive boating

safety programs.

Two years after passage of the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971, 1,754

recreational boating fatalities were reported, on a base of approximately

6 million recreational vessels registered. Since then, the number of registered

boats has grown by over 100 percent, yet reported boating fatalities have

declined to approximately 750-800 each year.

The coordinated efforts over the past 29 years of the Federal Government,

including the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary, States and local

communities, and numerous recreational boating organizations, have made

the Recreational Boating Safety Program a success. Cumulatively, an estimated 27,000 lives are estimated to have been saved as a result of the

recreational boating safety programs established by the Federal Boat Safety

Act.

However, despite these programs’ successes, too many boaters still die on

our Nation’s waters. Recreational boating remains second only to highways

in transportation-related fatalities. Some boaters lack basic boating safety

knowledge and fail to adequately prepare or exercise caution when boating.

Though recent accident statistics show improvement in many categories,

nearly 70 percent of all recreational boating victims die by drowning. Nearly

90 percent of these drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket. Most

of those lives could have been saved if the victims had simply worn their

life jackets.

This year’s North American Safe Boating Campaign, highlighted during National Safe Boating Week, will emphasize the theme of ‘‘Boat Smart from

the Start! Wear Your Life Jacket!’’ Many recreational boating organizations

promote safety through educational programs, and I encourage those who

will be on our waterways to take advantage of these lessons. I also urge

all Americans who enjoy boating to wear their life jackets and otherwise

to conduct themselves responsibly and safely.

In recognition of the importance of safe boating practices, the Congress,

by joint resolution approved June 4, 1958 (36 U.S.C. 131), as amended,

has authorized and requested the President to proclaim annually the 7-

day period prior to Memorial Day weekend as ‘‘National Safe Boating Week.’’

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution

and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 19 through May

25, 2001, as National Safe Boating Week. I encourage the Governors of

28050 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 99 / Tuesday, May 22, 2001 / Presidential Documents

the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,

and the officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United

States, to join in observing this occasion and to urge Americans to practice

safe boating habits throughout the year.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth

day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

Billing code 3195

Filed 5

[FR Doc. 01

–21–01; 8:45 am]

–13056

–01–P

W