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Sailing News
The American Sail Training
Association commended by
United States Congress
The United States Congress has recognized
the American Sail Training
Association (ASTA) as the National Sail
Training Association of the United States
as well as the United State's representative
in the International Sail Training
Forum. Congress also commended ASTA
for its advancement of character building
experiences for youth at sea.
The United States Senate passed
Senate Resolution #158 on March 10th,
2010. Principle sponsors included
Senators John Kerry (MA), Jack Reed
(RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) and
Lindsay Graham (SC).
On April 14th, 2010, Representatives
Patrick Kennedy (RI) and Elijah
Cummings (MD) as well as
Congressmen Bill Delahunt (MA),
Candice Miller (MI) and James Oberstar
(MN) stood in front of Congress to propose
the passing of House Resolution
#197.
"ASTA's work is critical to preserving
our Nation's rich maritime heritage
and ensuring that its traditions are passed
on to the next generation. Madam
Speaker, as the chairman of the
Subcommittee on Coast Guard and
Maritime Transportation, I urge the adoption
of H Res. 197 of the House today and
commend the good work of my friend,
Congressman Kennedy, on this resolution",
said Congressman Cummings. The
passing of these resolutions by Congress
officially recognized ASTA as the
National Sail Training Association of the
United States as well as the U.S.'s representative
in the International Sail
Training Forum.
"The American Sail Training
Association is deeply honored to be commended
by the United States Congress as
the national sail training organization for
the United States. In the 37 years since
our founding, the American sail training
fleet has grown from a handful of vessels
to over two hundred magnificent tall
ships, each with its own mission and program.
During that time, operational safety,
professionalism, and the effectiveness
of on-board educational programs have
increased exponentially as well. ASTAis
proud to be able to lead this movement in
America, so that our maritime heritage
and the craft of sail can be preserved for
future generations, and so that young
people today can go to sea to find the
transformational power of crossing horizons
under sail" said Bert Rogers,
Executive Director of ASTA.
The American Sail Training
Association is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit
organization focused on youth education,
leadership development and the preservation
of the maritime heritage of North
America. Since 1973, ASTA has supported
Education Under Sail and Youth
Character Development. ASTA represents
over 200 member vessel operations
in the United States and worldwide. It
organizes the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Series, manages scholarship
programs to make sail training experiences
more affordable for young people,
grant programs to assist crew of ASTA
member vessels with the costs of professional
development courses and licensing
requirements and publishes "SAIL TALL
SHIPS! A Directory of Sail Training and
Adventure at Sea".
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