Cruise Line Accurate Safety Statistics Act (CLASS Act) Bill Introduced With Bipartisan Support
Sammamish, Washington - July 7, 2006--- Members of the International Cruise Victims (ICV) joined Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT) in Washington DC on June 28, 2006 as he announced the introduction of the Cruise Line Accurate Safety Statistics Act (CLASS Act), which seeks to improve the reporting and handling of cruise ship crimes. The bill has bipartisan original cosponsors with Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) joining Shays.
CLASS Act is a major step representing the relentless efforts of the International Cruise Victims organization since it was formed earlier in 2006 by victims and families of victims of cruise ship crimes. After the two congressional hearings held in December 2005 and March 2006 by Congressman Shays as Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, members of the executive board of ICV traveled to Washington DC earlier in June 2006 and met with Congressman Shays, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S Coast Guard, and representative of the National Center for Victims of Crime. ICV board members: Kendall Carver, Bree Smith, and Son Michael Pham, anticipating the introduction of the pending bill, participated in discussions seeking support for long overdue changes to the self-regulated cruise industry and for improvement of safety and security for all future passengers worldwide.
"The next step is for ICV members and supporters to ask for support from legislators around the country. All of our members are victims or families of victims of the cruise industry, and we are committed to work as hard as we can to help with the passage of this important bill", says Kendall Carver, President of ICV.
International Cruise Victims organization is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to provide support to victims of crimes that occur on cruise ships, to act as an advocate for legislative reform to protect passengers from crimes and increase the rights of victims of crimes that occur on cruise ships. For more information about ICV, please visit www.internationalcruisevictims.org, or write to info@internationalcruisevictims.org, phone (425) 753-7711, fax (206) 374-2944.
