Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 95.djvu/996

 95 STAT. 970

PUBLIC LAW 97-53—OCT. 2, 1981 Public Law 97-53 97th Congress Joint Resolution

Oct. 2, 1981 [S.J. Res. 103]

National Port Week. Designation authorization.

To authorize and request the President of the United States to issue a proclamation designating the seven calendar days beginning October 4, 1981, as "National Port Week".

Whereas the past development of the public ports of the United States is the result of a fruitful partnership in which State and local authorities have assumed major responsibilities for landbased port development with the Federal Government constructing and maintaining the navigable waterways and harbors of the United States; Whereas our Nation's commercial seaports and inland river ports are indispensable to foreign and domestic waterbome commerce and to the economic well-being and national security of the United States; Whereas the maintenance and development of a national network of commercial ports is vital to expanded international trade and to the attainment of a favorable trade balance; Whereas commercial ports serving the waterbome commerce of the United States are responsible for the continued employment of more than one million workers and in 1980 generated a total of $66,000,000,000 in direct and indirect dollar income from gross sales and services to their users; Whereas there is a continuing need to focus public attention upon the value to our Nation of a viable and competitive system of commercial ports; and Whereas the "National Port Week" observance promotes public recognition of the vital role that our ocean and inland ports have played in the economic growth and development of the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation designating the seven-day period beginning October 4, 1981, as "National Port Week" and to invite the Governors of the several States, the chief officials of local governments, and the people of the United States to observe that week with appropriate ceremonies and activities. Approved October 2, 1981.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 103: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 127 (1981): Sept. 16, considered and passed Senate. Sept. 30, considered and passed House.

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