IV 

House Calendar No. 116 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 465 

[Report No. 111–285] 

Recognizing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association on the occasion 

of its 10th anniversary, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 20, 2009 

Mr. BROWN of South Carolina submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

OCTOBER 6, 2009 

Additional sponsors: Mr. JONES, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. MCINTYRE, Ms. 

WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. NYE, Mr. 

LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, and Mr. 

KLEIN of Florida 

OCTOBER 6, 2009 

Reported with amendments, referred to the House Calendar, and ordered to 

be printed 

[Strike out the preamble and insert the part printed in italic] 

[Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association 

on the occasion of its 10th anniversary, and for other 

purposes. 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 465 RH 

Whereas the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW), completed in 1940, runs along the southeast coast of the 

United States from Norfolk, Virginia, to Miami, Florida, 

and measures 1088 miles long; 

Whereas the AIWW was authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1937 to provide a safe inside navigation 

channel for commercial shipping, support for and encouragement of interstate commerce, and safe harbor and 

protection for shipping from inclement weather and wartime enemy attack; 

Whereas although authorized to a depth of 12 feet mean low 

water, the AIWW has not been maintained in a satisfactory manner and has controlling depths as shallow as 4 

feet in some locations; 

Whereas the lack of regular, adequate maintenance of the 

AIWW has created serious navigation hazards for commercial and recreational users; 

Whereas if maintained at the authorized depth, the AIWW 

could serve as a safe, fuel efficient, and economical alternative to congested highways and rail lines for some 

cargo; 

Whereas the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association was 

organized in 1999 to address the navigation challenges of 

the AIWW and to encourage the continuation and further 

development of waterborne commerce and recreation on 

the AIWW of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, 

Georgia, and Florida; 

Whereas since its founding, the Association has been a persistent and outspoken advocate for regular dredging and 

adequate maintenance to promote safe, cost effective 

navigation; 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 465 RH 

Whereas the Association has voiced the interests of commercial and recreational users of the AIWW, earning the title 

of ‘‘Voice of the Waterway’’; 

Whereas the Association promotes the AIWW as a vital marine highway along the Atlantic coast, providing safe 

navigation for commercial and recreational vessels; 

Whereas the Association has been a consistent force for protecting the integrity of the AIWW and securing its reputation as an important economic engine for the Nation 

and the region; and 

Whereas the Association has had many achievements over 10 

years, including successfully advocating for— 

(1) additional funds to be added annually to Federal 

and State budgets for waterway maintenance; 

(2) economic studies to be conducted to show the 

economic importance of the waterway; 

(3) the funding of a regional Dredged Material Management Plan for the waterway; 

(4) the States to become more involved in waterway 

maintenance; and 

(5) coordinating the many interested parties to work 

together for the waterway: Now, therefore, be it 

Whereas the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) was authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1937 to provide 

a safe inside navigation channel for commercial shipping, 

support for and encouragement of interstate commerce, 

and safe harbor and protection for shipping from inclement weather and wartime enemy attack; 

Whereas the AIWW, completed in 1940, runs along the southeast coast of the United States from Norfolk, Virginia, to 

Key West, Florida, and measures 1,088 miles long; 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 465 RH 

Whereas segments of the intracoastal waterway on the Atlantic 

Coast received their initial congressional authorization 

through Rivers and Harbors Acts beginning in 1880; 

Whereas the AIWW is a vital transportation system providing 

safe, reliable, and efficient navigation for commercial, recreational, and military vessels; 

Whereas the Corps of Engineers is currently engaged in flood 

control, hydropower production, environmental restoration, 

maintenance dredging, lock maintenance, recreation, and 

navigation projects along the AIWW; 

Whereas, according to the Corps of Engineers, in 2007 the 

AIWW supported the transportation of 2,543,000 tons of 

freight traffic, including commodities such as wheat, corn, 

soybeans, electrical machinery, iron, coal, gasoline, fabricated metal products, and electrical machinery; 

Whereas, according to the Corps of Engineers, in 2007 the 

AIWW supported a total of 34,184 trips made by recreational, commercial, and military vessels; 

Whereas the AIWW is an integral transportation network supporting the Armed Forces through the shipment of military 

equipment, fuel, and generators between Norfolk, Virginia, 

and Kings Bay, Georgia; 

Whereas the Dismal Swamp Canal, on the AIWW, is the oldest 

operating artificial waterway in the United States and 

has been placed on the National Register of Historical 

Places, was registered as an engineering landmark in 

1988, and was included in the National Park Service’s 

Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program in 

2004; 

Whereas the AIWW has enhanced the lives of the residents of 

Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS
5 

•HRES 465 RH 

Florida, as well as the greater southeastern United States, 

for more than 6 decades; 

Whereas the wildlife, flora, and fauna along the AIWW provide 

ample recreational opportunities for birdwatchers, photographers, and boaters; 

Whereas the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association was 

organized in 1999 to address the navigation challenges of 

the AIWW and to encourage the continuation and further 

development of waterborne commerce and recreation on the 

AIWW; 

Whereas the Association has voiced the interests of commercial 

and recreational users of the AIWW, earning the title of 

‘‘Voice of the Waterway’’; 

Whereas the Association has been an advocate for maintenance 

of the AIWW to promote safe, cost-effective navigation; and 

Whereas the Association promotes the AIWW as a vital marine 

highway along the Atlantic coast, providing safe navigation for commercial and recreational vessels: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the Atlantic Intracoastal Water3 way Association on the occasion of its 10th anniver4 sary; 

5 (2) commends the many achievements of the 

6 Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Association; and 

7 (3) encourages the Atlantic Intracoastal Water8 way Association to continue its tradition of excel9 lence in service to Waterway users. 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS
6 

•HRES 465 RH 

1 That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the importance of the Atlantic In3 tracoastal Waterway to recreational, commercial, and 

4 military vessels and to the history and quality of life 

5 of the citizens of the United States; and 

6 (2) acknowledges the Atlantic Intracoastal Wa7 terway Association on the occasion of its 10th anni8 versary. 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS

hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS
House Calendar No. 116 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 465 

[Report No. 111–285] 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Asand for other purposes. sociation on the occasion of its 10th anniversary, 

OCTOBER 6, 2009 

Reported with amendments, referred to the House 

Calendar, and ordered to be printed 


hsrobinson on DSK69SOYB1PROD with BILLS