Blumenthal Statement Ahead of Vice President Pence's Meeting With Cruise Ship Industry

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and lead sponsor of the Cruise Passenger Protection Act, released the following statement ahead of Vice President Mike Pence’s meeting with the cruise ship industry:

“I call on Congress to enact the Cruise Passenger Protection Act to ensure consumers know the risks of cruise ships and are able to seek recourse if their dream vacation turns into a nightmare,” said Blumenthal. “The COVID-19 crisis highlights the need for adequate medical staff on every cruise ship, currently lacking on all too many. Putting aside platitudes, Vice President Pence should support this common sense step protecting cruise ship health and insist the industry implements it immediately.”

The Cruise Passenger Protection Act would build on the passenger safety measures signed into law in the 2010 Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA). Among other provisions, the bill would strengthen a number of critical medical standards aboard cruise ships, including ensuring the presence of a physician to treat any passenger in the event of an emergency, the appropriate number of qualified medical staff to treat the number of passengers on board, and that the passengers are aware of the location of the vessel’s medical facilities and the appropriate steps they should follow during a medical emergency.

This bicameral, bipartisan legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) in the Senate and U.S. Representatives Doris Matsui (D-CA), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and John Garamendi (D-CA) in the House.

The text of the legislation is available here.

-30-