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Floor Speech

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Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise today in recognition of National Inland Waterways Workers Safety Awareness Day and to honor the life of Gabe White, a young West Virginian who lost his life far too soon.

Gabe was a deckhand, a Boy Scout, a graduate of Gilmer County High School, and, most importantly, he was a son, a brother, a nephew, a cousin, and a friend.

I want to thank Gabe's family for being with us here today and allowing me to share Gabe's story with the rest of the country, which underscores just how incredibly important barge safety is and must be.

Gabe was a Wheeling, WV, resident who loved music, art, video games, and sports. He was always curious and interested in learning more about the world and those around him. He appreciated history and was always starting interesting discussions with his friends and family. He engaged.

Gabe also loved the outdoors. As a Scout, he fell in love with hiking and camping, even during the winter. Gabe and his troops hiked and camped much of the Greenbrier River Trail. He had the honor of being an Order of the Eagle recipient, in addition to his rank as Life Scout. Gabe was always a leader while he was a Scout, which he typically tried to avoid because he always focused on being a team player, working with others.

Everyone around Gabe knew him as someone who was always ready to jump in and step up to the plate to lend a helping hand when needed. During his senior year of high school, Gabe decided to join the high school baseball team after only ever playing 1 year of Little League.

Later, Gabe's friends and teammates and family finally found out that Gabe only joined the team because he was worried they wouldn't have enough players to form a team and play that last season. Gabe knew it was his friends' last chance to play baseball, as they were graduating that year. So he was adamant in helping out.

Gabe showed up with a positive attitude to every practice and game and was always prepared to do whatever his coach and teammates needed him to do. Again, Gabe was always there to show up and step up to the plate when he knew his teammates and friends needed him most.

Gabe was a true West Virginia Mountaineer through and through.

Gabe often talked about his desire to become a father and was looking forward to becoming an uncle when his brothers had children.

After he graduated high school, Gabe got a job working as a deckhand. He was proud of his job and having this new opportunity. He was excited to learn all the new things about working on a barge on the river with his team of deckhands.

However, on the morning of March 22, 2023, Gabe arrived at work as usual when an accident occurred that tragically resulted in his death at just the age of 20. Following an investigation, it was determined that not only was no safety equipment issued, but Gabe was out of line of sight of the crane operator, and no spotter was present. Gabe's death never, never should have happened. It was preventable, and we must acknowledge this.

This is why I am proud to introduce the National Inland Waterways Workers Safety Day resolution with my colleague from West Virginia, Shelley Moore Capito. Our resolution designates March 22, 2024, as National Inland Waterways Workers Safety Day in recognition of the 1- year anniversary of Gabe's passing.

Workers in the national inland waterways play a crucial role navigating ships, barges, and tugboats that deliver the goods that we need and use. They work hard, loading and unloading barges and transport vessels, and cleaning and caring for vessels and shipyards to move the goods for America.

Our resolution recognizes the need to continue to improve the safe transportation of domestic cargo and, above all else, to reduce transportation vessel- and shipyard-related incidents, fatalities, and injuries so another family like Gabe's does not have to endure such a tragic loss. And I have said, Gabe's life was not in vain. He will save many others.

The safety of deckhands, engineers, masters, mates, and shoreside workers are of the utmost importance. It is critical to equip them with the necessary knowledge and resources to perform their duties safely and effectively and return home every evening safe.

I want to applaud the efforts of the Coast Guard, American Waterways Operators, Maritime Trades Department, and other groups that are working to reduce the incidents of workplace injuries and fatalities in and around towing vessels.

I encourage industry and worker groups to observe March 22 to not only honor Gabe's life but to also observe the day with appropriate programs and activities that increase safety awareness in and around towing- vessel employment.

I want to again thank Gabe's family, all of you who came to visit with us today and to honor Gabe in such a meaningful way and to ensure accidents like this never happen again.

May God bless Gabe and his family and keep all the workers on the waterways safe from any injuries.

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