b'Continued from page 7: Letter from the Executive DirectorvisitedCapitolHilltotakepartina portantmeetingisheldtwiceannually DecorativeandLowVoltage seriesofmeetingstodiscussissuesof betweenPVAandtheCoastGuardto LightingAlternativesimportancetotheU.S.passengerves- discuss ongoing and emerging issuesselindustry. of importance in a non-regulatory UpdateonSlips,TripsandFallsenvironment.Overtheyears,thedis- WorkingGroupWhilethiswasntafull-blownCon- cussionsbetweenPVAandtheCoastgressional Fly-In, it was a highly Guard have covered a wide range of PVAFlagshipProgramsuccessful day in the nations cap- topicsandhaveresultedinveryposi-ital to discuss industry issues with tiveresolutionsforbothindustryand FireFightingSafetyandShoremembersofCongressandstaff.The government. In addition, the com- BasedFirefighterEducationfollowingarejustafewoftheissues munications occurring as a result ofthatwereaddressed: theQPhavefosteredabroaderunder- The May QP meeting was held onstandingofthechallengesfacedbyour theheelsofaverysuccessfulNationalCERTS Tax Exemption Actasked respectiveorganizationsandmembers. Harbor Safety Committee meetingCongresstoenactH.R.3510andS. heldinChicago.TheCoastGuardand1944togiveataxexemptiontothose The QP meetings are quite impres- PVArepresentativesbothagreedthatwhohavereceivedpreviouslytaxable siveinthattheyevolveovertimeand establishingandholdingharborsafetyCERTSgrants. directlyreflecttheever-changingna- committeemeetingsinportsthrough-tureofbothindustryandtheCoast outthecountryisanimportantwayCreditCardCompetitionAct Guard.Onethingisforsure,nothing tobringthemaritimecommunityto-stressed the need to give small busi- stays the same and the QP meeting gethertosolvelocalwaterwaysissues.nessesameaningfulchoicetochoose agendasareextremelyfluidandtackle Future discussions about expandingcredit card processing networks to themostcurrentindustrytopics.PVA thesemeetingsnationallyareexpectedhelpreducecreditcardswipefees. memberswhoattendaQPmeetingfor atfutureQPmeetings.thefirsttimeoftencommentthattheyIllegal Charter Operationsurgedhadnoideathelevelofdetailandthe PVA FALL REGION MEETINGSCongresstostresstheimportanceto numberofissuesthatwerediscussed PVAstaffaremakinggreatprogresstheU.S.CoastGuardofprioritizing so openlyand forthrightlybe- in organizing PVAs Fall Regionenforcementofillegalcharters. tweenPVAandtheCoastGuard.Itis Meetings.PleasecheckthePVAsite commonfordiscussionstooccurthat soon as dates and locations will beCapitolConstructionFundinfluencehowtheCoastGuardand postedveryshortly.Iencourageyou(CCF)thanked Congress for ex- PVA (and its members) interact and tomarkyourcalendarsandplantopanding eligibility to participate in understandeachother.Thefollowing attendaswewillhaveanexcitingpro-thisprogramtoprivateoperators. highlightsjustafewofthetopicson gramminglineupforyou.thedaysbusymeetingagenda:SPRING PVA/U.S. COASTInthemeantime,letmeknowwhen-GUARD QUALITY NewCybersecurityRequirements everwecanbeofassistancetoyou.PARTNERSHIP MEETINGOnMay9,PVAPresidentPatMurphy CombatingIllegalCharters Sincerely,and PVA leaders met with AdmiralWayneArguin,CoastGuardAssistant UpdateonSexualHarassment Commandant for Prevention Policy andAssaultandkeyCoastGuardofficersforthe JohnR.Groundwaterspring PVA/Coast Guard Quality UpdateonPlateAssessmentTool ExecutiveDirectorPartnership (QP) Meeting. This im- WorkingGroup45 MAY 2024'