National Maritime Day, 2024

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 10764 of May 21, 2024

National Maritime Day, 2024

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Our Nation's merchant mariners embody the highest
aspirations of our democracy, always answering our
country's call with commitment and courage. Today, we
honor their service and sacrifice. Together, we
recommit to meeting our sacred obligation to care for
them and their families.

Unbreaking and unbending in their devotion to duty, our
merchant mariners have stood for our Nation's freedom
and liberty throughout history--from delivering
critical goods and troops to the battlefields of World
War II to responding to devastating natural disasters
around the world and shipping the goods and military
cargo that keep our Nation safe and prosperous. Today,
our merchant mariners are continuing this legacy of
service, delivering humanitarian aid to people in need
and transporting military equipment around the world.
At the same time, merchant mariners are engines of our
economy. They facilitate international trade and
strengthen our supply chains by transporting billions
of dollars of goods across oceans, seas, and waterways
to the hands of American businesses and consumers.

Our merchant mariners have always met the moment--and
my Administration will always have their backs. That is
why we are ensuring that ships traveling between United
States ports are American-built, American-owned, and
American-crewed by enforcing the Jones Act. This will
not only support American shipbuilding but will also
support good union jobs. Meanwhile, we have made
historic investments in our Nation's infrastructure,
including rebuilding our ports so that they are safer,
cleaner, and easier and more affordable to move
through.

We also recognize that our merchant mariners are
strongest when they reflect the full diversity of our
Nation. My Budget proposes $191 million for the United
States Merchant Marine Academy to educate and train the
next generation of seagoing officers and maritime
leaders. Additionally, my Administration established
Every Mariner Builds A Respectful Culture Standards to
prevent sexual assault and harassment and to support
survivors.

Today, as we honor all that merchant mariners have done
for our Nation, we also recognize the mariners who have
made the ultimate sacrifice for our Nation. We owe
these fallen heroes a debt of gratitude we can never
fully repay. But our Nation will never forget their
legacy and that of every mariner who has dared all,
risked all, and given all for our Nation.

The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20,
1933, has designated May 22 of each year as ``National
Maritime Day'' to commemorate the first transoceanic
voyage by a steamship in 1819 by the S.S. Savannah. By
this resolution, the Congress has authorized and
requested the President to issue annually a
proclamation calling for its appropriate observance. I
also request that all ships sailing under the American
flag dress ship on that day.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of
the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May
22, 2024, as National Maritime Day. I call upon all
Americans to observe this day and to celebrate the
United States Merchant Marine and maritime industry
with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the
United States of America the two hundred and forty-
eighth.