b'LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE REPORTA Visit to WashingtonRICHARD PATCH // LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORO n Tuesday May 7, eight importantbillthatPVAsupportsthe with the office of Senator Tammyofficers,boardmembers, CreditCardCompetitionAct.Inbrief, Duckworth. To our delight, thepastpresidents,andstaff thelegislationwouldincreasecompeti- stafferwemetwithwasaU.S.CoastofPVAtraveledtoCapi- tionamongcreditcardprocessorsand Guard officer on assignment to thetolHillinWashington,D.C.,tomeet lowerswipefeespaidbymerchantsto Senate. This coincidence made forwithSenateandHousepolicymakers bigbanknetworks.WethankedSenator aneasyconversationabouttheneedonissuesofconcerntoourindustry. Durbinforhisleadershipanddiscussed forgreaterCoastGuardsupportandnextstepsforthebill. resourcesfromCongress.WeagreedWebeganthedaymeetingwithstafffor thatincreasesaimedatrecruiting,re-thetwoU.S.senatorsfromthehome Next,wemadeourwaythroughthe tention,andtrainingwereessentialel-stateofourPVASecretary/Treasurer, underground maze of tunnels and ementsforasuccessfulCoastGuard.AndrewSargisofWendellaBoats.Sena- hallways that connect the HousetorRichardDurbinisthesponsorofan and Senate office buildings to meet Our next stop was to the office ofSenator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania.Senator Casey represents the homeportoftheGatewayClipperFleetinPittsburgh. The senators staff wasquite familiar with our legislativepriorities and was already on recordinsupportofgreaterresourcesfortheSmallShipyardGrantProgram.ThegrantprogramsupportstheAmericanmaritime industry by investing insmallU.S.shipyards.After lunch in the House cafete-ria, our group met with the HouseSubcommittee on Coast Guard andMaritime Transportation. The sub-committeehasjurisdictionovermostPVApolicyissues.Inourdiscussionswith the committee staff, we raisedconcerns around a variety of issuesElectrifying Ferries Across America including the longtime vexing issueof illegal charters where unlicensed,Making smart, safe, and sustainable solutions a realityuninspected, or otherwise unquali-for ferries across the Americas. fiedmarineoperatorsofferboatridesto passengers for hire. These illegalcharters are dangerous and competeunfairlywithPVAmembersthatfol-lowsafetyprotocols.ThemessagewasFOGHORN 26'