Supporting Goals of National Marina Day

SUPPORTING GOALS OF NATIONAL MARINA DAY -- (House of Representatives - July 21, 2004)

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Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. FILNER. I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota.

Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman was inquiring about a fishing rodeo. That is catch-and-release fishery. You cast out and catch fish and weigh them.

Mr. FILNER. It is not riding them?

Mr. OBERSTAR. Then you throw them back into the water, not throw them but you put them gently back into the water. You kiss the fish when you put it back in.

Mr. FILNER. I thank the gentleman. I am glad I yielded to him.

Mr. OBERSTAR. The gentleman from Ohio understands what is kissing the fish and putting it back in, especially in Lake Erie.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. FILNER. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, in Ohio we always had trouble finding the little saddles necessary to accommodate the fish rodeos. They are very popular in Ohio as well.

Mr. FILNER. Do I have to wear stirrups or whatever?

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LaTOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), the author of this resolution.

[Time: 18:00]

Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I would say, if the gentleman would come to Lake Lanier in north Georgia, we have some fish big enough to ride in Lake Lanier. We will provide the saddles. Fishing rodeos are big business, and they attract a lot of people to the sport of fishing.

On August 14, we will celebrate the third annual National Marina Day. This annual celebration promotes the United States' 12,000 marinas and strives to educate all of us, politicians, civic leaders and the public, about the important roles that marinas play in the waterfront communities across America.

During the first year, 80 marinas in 23 States participated in National Marina Day. Last year, the celebration spread to 150 marinas in 25 States. This year again marks another significant opportunity to recognize marina operators and their industry's role and contributions to America's water recreation.

National Marina Day offers local marina operators the opportunity to host events to bring tens of thousands of people to our country's marinas. These marinas are gateways to boating and help maintain the natural environments that we enjoy.

In my district, Lake Lanier is home to 10 marinas, and I am proud to recognize Kirby Cay Scheimann of the Aqualand Marina in Flowery Branch, Georgia, as the National Marina Day chairman. The marinas in my district, like other marinas throughout the country, provide an economic investment in the lake, boat storage, boat events, and a wealth of local knowledge for visitors to the lake. These marinas serve in our State as the area's gateway to Georgia's Great Lake.

This resolution supports the goals of National Marina Day and recognizes the value marinas play as gateways to boating and as stewards of the environment. This resolution commends marinas as places where Americans can visit with family and friends and come together for recreation, rest, and relaxation.

Congress and all of us as Members of Congress are in a unique position to support these goals. When the National Association of Engine and Boat Manufacturers first used the word "marina" in 1928, it was defined simply as a recreational boating facility. Today, however, marinas are much more. They have become an integral part not only of American recreation, but also of American life. They are strong, vibrant communities of families and friends united by a shared passion for the water.

I urge adoption of the resolution.

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Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us recognizes National Marina Day on August 14, 2004.
There are more than 12,000 marinas in the United States providing safe harbor for millions of recreational vessels that operate on the lakes and navigable waters of the United States. These marinas include boatyards, yacht clubs, and public and private mooring basins across the United States. Marinas in the United States provide employment for more than 140,000 Americans.

Perhaps most importantly, marinas provide a means for millions of Americans to relax and enjoy themselves boating.
National Marina Day is a time to celebrate the history of marinas and boating and to look to the future of this vibrant industry. National Marina Day activities across the United States will include environmental demonstrations, youth center events, fishing rodeos, boating safety demonstrations, and marina open houses.

National Marina Day is going to be celebrated from Maine to Florida; from Maryland to Los Angeles, CA. Marinas participating in the celebration include marinas from the Marriott Marina in San Diego to the Constitution Marina in Boston.

Marina owners are working closely with the United States Coast Guard to step up vigilance at their facilities to improve security on U.S. waterways. These efforts include looking out for aggressive activities, attempts to gain access to vessels without proper identification, fixtures attached to structures, unusual diving operations, and vehicles and vessels in unusual locations.

Mr. Speaker, it is fitting for the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize the ongoing contribution of marina operators in the United States to our economy, our security, our environment, and most of all, for providing us with a way of enjoying a day on the beautiful waterways of the United States.

I urge my colleagues to support the Resolution.

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