b'LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE REPORTPVA Fly-In a Smashing SuccessRICHARD PATCH // LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORO n a crystal-clear November heardfromPVAstaffaboutsomedos committeeaswellastheCoastGuardmorning, 27 PVA board anddontsoflobbyingandareviewof witnessRADMBurdian.membersandpassengervessel legislativetopicsinthepassengerves-industryleadersarrivedonCapitolHill selindustry.Witheveryonefeelingat Afterthehearing,groupsscatteredtoinWashington,D.C.,tomakeourcol- easeandempowered,wedividedinto jointheirassignedmeetingsandap-lectivevoiceheardonavarietyofissues. fivegroups,dividedbyregion,andhit pointments.PVACongressionalFly-Insomeinstances,wewereintroducing theHill. In participants crisscrossed CapitolPVA to federal policymakers for the Hillmeetingcongressionalstaff,andfirst time and in other instances we Some groups began the day attend- inmanycases,meetingwithmemberswerecontinuingexistingrelationships. ingaHouseTransportationandIn- ofCongressinperson.Inall,27PVAfrastructure subcommittee hearing fly-inparticipantsmetwith22sepa-The day started with breakfast and examiningU.S.CoastGuardenforce- ratecongressionalofficesincluding11anoverviewoftheworkofCongress ment efforts. Breaks in the hearing face-to-face meetings and exchangesandthecurrentstateofplayfromour gavePVAstaffandfly-inparticipants withelectedrepresentatives(includingfriendCraigMontesanooftheAmer- an opportunity to talk with several SenatorsReed,Whitehouse,andGra-icanWaterwaysOperators.Next,we members of Congress on the sub- ham,andRepresentativesGaramendi,FOGHORN 30'