International Cruise Victims Association Executive Commitee Meets With FBI and U.S. Coast Guard to Discuss Ten Point Plan for Regulatory Reform
SAMMAMISH, WASHINGTON, JUNE 25, 2006: Members of the Executive Committee of the International Cruise Victims Association, Inc. (ICV), a not for profit corporation composed of victims and families of victims of cruise crimes, traveled to Washington, D.C. this last week to meet with high-level members of both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. Coast Guard to get feedback on ICV's ten point program. Members of both the FBI and U.S. Coast Guard offered assistance to Mr. Kendall Carver, Mr. Son Michael Pham and Ms. Bree Smith on how to pursue changes in line with ICV's ten-point program.
These meetings are the first in a series of meetings with both the FBI and U.S. Coast Guard. A U.S. Coast Guard representative stated that they were developing a model crime matrix report and would be using the documentation provided by the ICV in helping draft the model crime reporting procedure for the Cruise Line Industry.
ICV representatives also met with staff members from Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT) office in connection with the legislation that Congressman Shays is currently drafting. Additionally, ICV representatives met with Susan Smith Howley, the Director of Public Policy and Victim Services for the National Center for Victims of Crime, while in Washington, D.C. Ms. Howley has graciously agreed to provide support to ICV in its pursuit of regulatory reform and assistance to victims of crimes on cruise ships. The National Center for Victims of Crime is the nation's largest resource and advocacy organization for crime victims.