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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, National Safe Boating Week is being observed from |
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| 6 | 7 | | May 18 to 24, 2019; and |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Boating, including fishing, sailing, paddling, and |
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| 8 | 9 | | waterskiing, is an immensely popular recreational activity, and the |
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| 9 | 10 | | U.S. Coast Guard and its federal, state, and local partners |
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| 10 | 11 | | encourage all boaters to explore and enjoy America's beautiful |
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| 11 | 12 | | waters responsibly; and |
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| 12 | 13 | | WHEREAS, According to the National Safe Boating Council, |
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| 13 | 14 | | approximately 650 people die in boating-related accidents in the |
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| 14 | 15 | | United States each year, and 76 percent of those fatalities are |
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| 15 | 16 | | caused by drowning; the vast majority of accidents occur because of |
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| 16 | 17 | | human error or poor judgment and can be easily prevented through |
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| 17 | 18 | | basic safety practices, such as carrying emergency communications |
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| 18 | 19 | | equipment, participating in free boat safety checks, remaining |
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| 19 | 20 | | sober while navigating, and wearing life jackets; and |
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| 20 | 21 | | WHEREAS, Statistics have shown that nearly 85 percent of |
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| 21 | 22 | | those who drowned in boating mishaps were not wearing a life jacket; |
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| 22 | 23 | | although many boaters stow life jackets on board, there is rarely |
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| 23 | 24 | | enough time to properly employ one in the event of an accident; in |
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| 24 | 25 | | an effort to increase people's willingness to wear this essential |
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| 25 | 26 | | piece of safety equipment, modern life jackets have been designed |
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| 26 | 27 | | to be smaller, lighter, and more comfortable; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Boating accidents happen regardless of one's level |
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| 28 | 29 | | of experience, and wearing a life jacket is the most effective way |
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| 29 | 30 | | to prevent drowning for veteran and novice boaters alike; now, |
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| 30 | 31 | | therefore, be it |
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| 31 | 32 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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| 32 | 33 | | Legislature hereby recognize May 18 to 24, 2019, as National Safe |
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| 33 | 34 | | Boating Week and encourage Texans to practice safe boating habits |
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| 34 | 35 | | and to wear life jackets at all times while on the water. |
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