H-4126              _______________________________________________

                                            HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 32

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              49th Legislature                              1986 Regular Session

By Representatives Zellinsky, Smitherman, Hargrove, McMullen, Valle, Fisch and Kremen

Read first time 1/23/86 and referred to Committee on Transportation.

TO THE HONORABLE RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, THE HONORABLE BOOTH GARDNER:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

          WHEREAS, It is the policy and intent of the State of Washington to prevent the loss of human lives, property, and marine shipping vessels, and to protect the marine environment of the State; and

          WHEREAS, Pilots, experienced in the handling of vessels upon certain waters of the State, who meet prescribed qualifications and are duly licensed by the State for vessel operation, are necessary to fulfilling successfully such policy and intent of the State; and

          WHEREAS, Sound application of certain other compulsory pilotage provisions, which are contained in Washington State Law, are necessary to implement such policy and intent; and

          WHEREAS, The Federal government, through the United States Coast Guard, has full and complete jurisdiction over those vessels licensed by the Coast Guard for coastal trade; and

          WHEREAS, Such Federal jurisdiction does not currently allow for State of Washington enforcement of state-enacted pilotage disciplinary provisions; and

          WHEREAS, Such lack of enforcement capability severely limits the State's ability to fulfill successfully its stated intent to protect human lives, property, marine vessels, and the marine environment of the State;

          NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the President and the Congress of the United States support and institute procedures that will allow concurrent jurisdiction over state-licensed pilots while on enrolled or coastwise vessels navigating within Puget Sound and Grays Harbor in the State of Washington.

          BE IT RESOLVED, That your Memorialists do solemnly commit the State of Washington to working with the appropriate Federal agencies and individuals to draft any Federal legislation necessary to the enactment of such concurrent jurisdiction; and

          BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington, and the Honorable Booth Gardner, Governor of the State of Washington.