National Safe Boating Week, 2001

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

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.

(Presidential Sig.)B