Well, it is Steam Oriented. Most of you know of the Legendary Steamboat Delta Queen. Unlike needing a railroad to run on, it needs permission from Congress to operate as she violates the Safety Of Life At Sea laws passed back in the 1960s -- in spite of the fact that she runs on rivers and is never more than 5 minutes from shore. Because of this, and her nearly spotless safety record Congress had granted the exemption numerous times until 2008, when the exemption fell into being a political football.
The Delta Queen is now owned by a group that wants to run her, and has plans in place for reconditioning the complete steam system. There are two bills in congress to grant the exemption, in the house HR 1248 and in the Senate S 1717. Simple, right? Non-partisan and lots of public support. NOPE, The American Cruise Lines, who have their own riverboats doesn't like the idea and has spent over $160,000 in the past three years hiring a Lobbyist to kill the bill, the lobbyist group is Blank Rome. In case any of you would like to check for yourself the Lobby Disclosure Search website is Searchhttp://disclosures.house.gov/ld/ldsearch.aspx
ACL's deep pockets make this grass-roots efforts to get the exemption passed very difficult, if not impossible. Right now it seems both bills are stuck in committee.
Those of us trying to help the Delta Queen would certainly appreciate phone calls, emails or snail mail to your federal representatives supporting the bills.