Cruise Passenger Protection Act
Latest action · Apr 27, 2017 Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedApr 26, 2017
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Cruise Passenger Protection Act
This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to determine whether any of the enumerated rights in the international cruise line passenger bill of rights (adopted by the members of the Cruise Lines International Association) is enforceable under federal law.
The bill shall apply to passenger vessels that: (1) carry at least 250 passengers, (2) have sleeping facilities for each passenger, (3) are on a voyage that embarks or disembarks passengers in the United States, (4) are not engaged in coastwise trade, and (5) are not federal- or state-owned.
The bill revises passenger vessel security and safety requirements concerning: (1) log book entries and reporting of deaths, missing individuals, thefts, and other crimes; and (2) placement, access to records, and notice of video surveillance equipment to monitor crime.
The DOT, in coordination with the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, the Department of Justice, and heads of other relevant federal agencies, shall study the feasibility of having an individual on board each passenger vessel to provide victim support and related safety and security services.
The Maritime Administration (currently authorizes) shall certify organizations in the United States and abroad that offer the curriculum for training and certification of passenger vessel security personnel, crew members, and law enforcement officials on the appropriate methods for prevention, detection, evidence preservation, and reporting of crimes in international waters.
The bill revises vessel design, equipment, construction, and retrofitting requirements.
A peep hole or other means of visual identification shall be in the entry door of a passenger stateroom or crew cabin to provide an unobstructed view of the area outside the stateroom or crew cabin.
Vessel owners shall ensure that a vessel is staffed at all times with appropriate medical staff to treat passengers on board.
The Department of Homeland Security may withhold or revoke the clearance of, and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating may deny entry into the United States to, any vessel owner that: (1) commits an act or omission for which a penalty is imposed under this Act, or (2) fails to pay the penalty.
The bill makes additional compensation recoverable for nonpecuniary damages (but not punitive damages) for deaths resulting from a passenger cruise ship accident occurring on the high seas beyond 12 nautical miles from the U.S. shore.
Cosponsors 10
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Apr 26, 2017 to Jul 26, 2017; 2 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-CT | James A. Himes | Original | Apr 26, 2017 |
| R-TX | Ted Poe | Original | Apr 26, 2017 |
| D-CA | Adam B. Schiff | May 16, 2017 | |
| D-MA | James P. McGovern | May 16, 2017 | |
| D-CA | Julia Brownley | May 16, 2017 | |
| D-CA | Lucille Roybal-Allard | May 16, 2017 | |
| D-MA | Niki Tsongas | May 25, 2017 | |
| D-CA | Judy Chu | Jun 6, 2017 | |
| R-NE | Jeff Fortenberry | Jul 19, 2017 | |
| D-MA | Katherine M. Clark | Jul 26, 2017 |
Committees 1
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Transportation and Infrastructure Committee | Referred Apr 26, 2017 |
| Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee | Referred Apr 27, 2017 |
Actions 3
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Apr 27, 2017Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
- Apr 26, 2017Introduced in House
- Apr 26, 2017Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Constitutional authority
The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 163, no. 71, April 26, 2017, page H2897.
Related bills 3
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| S 965 | Cruise Passenger Protection Act | Identical bill | Apr 27, 2017 |
| S 1502 | Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2017 | Related bill | Jun 29, 2017 |
| HR 5096 | Cruise Passenger Protection Act | Reintroduced Bill | Nov 15, 2019 |
Titles 2
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To improve passenger vessel security and safety, and for other purposes.
- Short Titles as Introduced
- Cruise Passenger Protection Act
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Transportation and Public Works.
- Administrative law and regulatory procedures
- Assault and harassment offenses
- Business records
- Cardiovascular and respiratory health
- Civil actions and liability
- Coast guard
- Crime prevention
- Crime victims
- Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
- Department of Homeland Security
- Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
- Emergency medical services and trauma care
- Evidence and witnesses
- Government information and archives
- Government studies and investigations
- Health personnel
- Health technology, devices, supplies
- Marine and inland water transportation
- Right of privacy
- Sex offenses
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Transportation and Public Works
- Transportation employees
- Transportation safety and security
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Apr 26, 2017Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
