22 JUNE 2018 • FOGHORN LEGISLATIVEREPORT We NY, too! We NY, too! During the recent PVA Capitol Hill Congressional Fly-In this past May 8, participants distributed a paper entitled “PVA Promotes Safety on America’s Waterways.” The document recom- mends: enactment of Congressman Peter King’s H.R. 4468 calling for a Coast Guard analysis of and report on recreational vessel operator training; prioritization of Coast Guard enforce- ment of existing laws prohibiting un- inspected vessels from carrying more than six passengers for hire; and appro- priation of ample funding for the Coast Guard’s marine safety mission. Unlike the situation for operators of motor vehicles on the highways, there is wide disparity among the states regarding requirements for operating a motorized recreational boat. Some states have a mandatory training re- quirement for certain operators; others don’t. There are even fewer state re- quirements for operators of human- powered craft. Coast Guard-licensed commercial mariners, such as the ones employed on PVA member vessels, report that all too frequently recreational users don’t understand or comply with well- established “rules of the road” on the waterways. This jeopardizes both com- mercial and recreational vessels when they operate in close proximity. PVA’s Board of Directors has endorsed Congressman King’s legisla- tion. During its meeting in Savannah, GA, on January 31, 2018, the Board unanimously approved the following resolution: “Taking note of increased usage and congestion in our nation’s waterways, as well as difficulties that commercial passenger vessels encounter when interacting with un- licensed recreational boaters who do not understand or abide by marine “rules of the road,” the Passenger Vessel Association endorses enactment of H.R. 4468 by Congressman Peter King of New York. The bill directs the Coast Guard to report to Congress regarding recreational vessel operator training, to examine steps that have been taken to encourage states to adopt mandatory training for recreational vessel operators, and look at issues concerning a possible federal require- ment for boater education, training, and testing.” The text of H.R. 4468 directs the Coast Guard to provide Congress with a study and report on “Recreational Vessel Operator Education and Training.” The Coast Guard is to review existing training programs, such as ones offered by the Coast GuardAuxiliary and power squadrons, current State boating education programs, including model programs developed by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA); and other hands-on training programs available to recre- ational vessel operators. Subjects to be examined include: course materials;