U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) have introduced legislation that would allow the Delta Queen to carry passengers on overnight trips on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (OH-1) and Brad Wenstrup (OH-2).

“The Delta Queen’s legacy is rooted in Cincinnati and the city should play a role in her future,” Brown said. “More than just a treasured historic landmark, restoration of this ship would pump money back into Ohio River towns while returning the Delta Queen to Cincinnati’s Riverfront where it belongs.”

“The Delta Queen is an Ohio treasure and an important part of the history of Cincinnati, the Queen City. I remember being on the Delta Queen as a kid and all Cincinnatians are proud of the connection to our city,” Portman said. “This legislation is about bringing this historic boat back to my home-town of Cincinnati and boosting jobs and tourism along the Ohio River during this time of economic uncertainty, all at no cost to the taxpayer.”

The bill, if adopted by House and Senate, will grant exemption from the fire-retardant materials construction requirement for vessels operating within the Boundary Line until 2018, i.e. for another 15 years from now on, with the possibility of extenting this time period even further by new legislation before the exemption expires in 2028.

Congressman Steve Chabot of Ohio has introduced a new bill to save the Delta Queen – that is, granting her a new exemption fom the Safety at Sea Act, bill no. H.R.1961. Co-Sponsors of the bill are, so far: Representatives Wm. Lacy Clay (MO-1), Thomas Massie (KY-4) and Brad R. Wenstrup (OH-2).

Now is the moment where the efforts of the whole steamboater’s community need to be combined, supporting this bill, H.R. 1961.

Please support the efforts to save the Delta Queen and bring her back on the rivers:

– Contact your Congressmen now and urge them to support the bill. We need their help, so please be polite, but let them know how important it is for you and your community to bring the Delta Queen back on the rivers as a operating cruise vessel.

– If you know a Representative willing to co-sponsor the bill or if you know a Senator willing to sponsor the bill in the Senate, please contact Rep. Steve Chabot’s office in Washington, phone (202) 225-2216. The more support the bill gets, the better the chances to get it through Congress.

To find out more about bill H.R.1961, go to https://www.congress.gov/ and search for Bill Number „H.R. 1961“.

To find your local Representative and how to contact him/her, go to http://www.house.gov/representatives/

Andi f you’re looking for some more arguments in favor of the Delta Queen – even though we’re sure you know already – you migh want to check http://www.save-the-delta-queen.org/arguments-in-favor-of-the-delta-queen/

Efforts are underway to bring the Delta Queen back to overnight river cruise service. Now Delta Queen fans have the opportunity to become part of her honorary crew.

DQSC, Inc. is assembling a special crew to help to rescue, restore and preserve the legendary steamboat Delta Queen and hopefully, return her to her once regal glory plying the great rivers of America’s heartland. The Delta Queen currently serves as a dockside hotel in Chattanooga, TN, and a group of supporters have come together to form DQSC, Inc with the following goals:

1. To purchase the Delta Queen, halting current efforts to move the DQ to the east or west coast to permanently serve as a dockside hotel;
2. To renew the Congressional Exemption allowing the DQ to return to overnight passenger cruise service;
3. To restore and upgrade the DQ (including replacement of the 1919-era boilers), so that she can once again provide river enthusiasts the unique opportunity to visit America’s heartland from an authentic early 20th century paddlewheel steamboat;
4. To return to the DQ to overnight passenger cruise service in 2014.

The DQSC, Inc effort is being lead by former Delta Queen Steamboat Company Vice President Cornel Martin who spearheaded the last successful effort to secure the Congressional Exemption extending the DQ’s overnight river cruise service from 1998 to 2008, current Delta Queen Hotel operators and care takers Randy and Leah Ann Ingram, and long time Delta Queen supporter Phillip Johnson.

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