House Passes Carson Bill to Make Duck Boats Safer

Statement

Congressman Carson applauded the House's passage of the 2022 Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, which includes his legislation to make Duck Boats safer -- the Duck Boat Safety Improvement Act.

Duck Boats are a type of amphibious passenger vehicle popular with tourists; they can travel on roadways and on water. However, for 20 years now, recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board to make these vessels safer have not been implemented. Meanwhile, since 1999, more than 40 people have died in Duck Boat accidents.

This major safety problem hit close to home when nine members of the Coleman family from Indianapolis were killed in a Duck Boat accident in 2018 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri. Only Tia Coleman and her nephew, Donovan, survived. In total, 17 of the 31 passengers on the boat were killed. Since then, Tia Coleman has become an advocate for greater Duck Boat safety.

"Today is a major step forward in our effort to make Duck Boats safer and honor the memory of the Coleman family, as well as all who have died in Duck Boat accidents," said Rep. Carson. "I thank the surviving members of the Coleman family and their loved ones, particularity Tia Coleman, for their impassioned advocacy on this priority. They have turned their pain into purpose, and for that we are grateful. Now that the House has passed the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act, I urge the Senate to also vote in favor of the legislation, so the Duck Boat safety recommendations provided by the National Transportation Safety Board 20 years ago can finally become law. This will no doubt save countless lives."

The Duck Boat Safety Improvement Act will require vessel operators to implement common-sense boating safety measures when waterborne, including:

Improving reserve buoyancy and watertight compartmentalization to prevent sinking,
Requiring more monitoring and adherence to severe weather alerts and warnings,
Requiring release of road safety seatbelts when Duck Boats become waterborne,
Requiring stronger crew safety training and certification,
Removing or reconfigure canopies and window coverings for waterborne operations,
Requiring personal flotation devices for waterborne operations,
Requiring installation of better bilge pumps and alarms,
Installing underwater LED lights that activate automatically in emergencies, and
Complying with other Coast Guard boating safety requirements.

Read Congressman Carson's statement for the Congressional Record here.

Source