Let’s continue asking for support, let’s continue to make our cause public!

At this time we’re requesting support from

a) the House Leadership to put the exemption bill for the Delta Queen in the suspension calendar (click for details),

b) Veterans and veteran’s organizations: the Delta Queen has served in this war in the San Francisco Bay.

Please, send letters, faxes to these people requesting their support and action to save the Delta Queen.

Here are template letters for your inspiration when writing your letters:

The Hon. Nancy Pelosi
Speaker, United States House of Representatives

Via Fax number: (202) 225-4188
or email/web form: http://speaker.house.gov/contact/

H.R. 3852: Steamboat Delta Queen’s exemption from the Safety of Life at Sea Act

Dear Madam Speaker:

I am writing to request that you take H.R. 3852 out of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and send it directly to the House floor as part of the suspension calendar. For the past 40 years, Congress has voted to extend the Delta Queen’s exemption — in almost every case by near-unanimous margins, as befits what always has been, and should remain, a bi-partisan issue: namely the saving of a literally unique and quintessentially American treasure.

Respectfully yours,

CALLING ALL VETERANS!!!

One of you needs your help immediately.  The last authentic steam powered stern wheeled overnight passenger vessel on our inland rivers and a veteran of World War II is being threatened, the Legendary Lady, The DELTA QUEEN.  We know there are many important issues in our lives and in our country today.  But we can’t ignore history. 

The DELTA QUEEN started her career in 1927 running between San Francisco and Sacramento, with her sister boat, the DELTA KING.  They were both drafted in 1940 to serve the United States Navy first as a floating barracks and then transporting troops from San Francisco to troop ships waiting to depart for the Pacific war theatre.  They were also there when those troops came back home after their long hard battles.

The DELTA KING has already been retired to Sacramento, stripped of her machinery, serving as a floating hotel.  Luckily the owners of the DELTA QUEEN had the foresight to procure that machinery and it has been available to keep the DELTA QUEEN running as our last authentic overnight steamboat today.  She is magical and deserves to be saved.

In order to make this happen she requires an exemption from Congress.  Representative Steve Chabot of Ohio has introduced HR Bill # 3852.  Possibly very soon the Committee on Rules will be asked to determine if he can attach that Bill to the Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill # 2830. 

What can you do to help?

1) Rally your members to contact the Committee on Rules to allow HR 3852 be allowed to be attached to Bill #2830 while on the house floor.

2) Rally your members to contact their Representatives and Senators asking for their support in the exemption for the DELTA QUEEN.

3) Adopt the Resolution at all levels of your organization.

4) Circulate the petition.

5) Ask any media contact you have to publish the plight of the DELTA QUEEN.

Once Resolutions have been passed and Petitions have been signed please send to Jo Ann Schoen, P.O. Box 925, Corydon, IN 47112. Jo Ann will collectively forward them to Representatives, Senators, Committees.

PLEASE don’t delay.  Help today.  For further information read the attached documentation.  See www.steamboats.org, www.save-the-delta-queen.org, www.steamboats.com. ,andwww.majesticamericaline.com.   Steamboats.org will link you to two wonderful videos.  A young college student in Iowa prepared one, about 15 minutes long.  The other is a song newly written as a tribute to the DELTA QUEEN.  You may also contact Vicki Webster by e-mail:  vjw _at_ olypen.com.

Thank you so very much for your care and concern.