BoatU.S.

880 S. Pickett St.

Alexandria, VA 22304

April 20, 2009

Rep. David E. Price, Chair

Subcommittee on Homeland Security

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Price:

As the nation’s largest organization of recreational boaters, with 600,000 members nationwide, we are vitally concerned with issues of boating safety and safe navigation. Thus, we became very concerned upon learning that the President’s FY 2010 budget calls for discontinuing the Loran-C navigation system.

I am sure you recognize the importance of Loran-C as the only U.S.-based and reliable backup system available for the Global Positioning System, which operates via satellite and could be knocked out by signal jamming. In addition, one year ago, the Dept of Homeland Security committed to the extensive upgrade of Loran-C technology into a highly improved “e-Loran” system. Thanks to improvements at nearly all existing Loran-C stations, receivers perform better than ever and the new combined eLoran /GPS receivers now entering the market will deliver superior navigation performance for recreational boaters as well as commercial mariners.

For these reasons, and in the interests of navigation safety we respectfully request that your committee restore Coast Guard funding to support continued Loran-C operation and improvement.

If I can provide further information regarding Loran-C and its importance to recreational mariners, please feel free to contact me. Thank you.

Yours till the board walks,

Margaret Podlich, Vice President for Government Affairs

BoatU.S.