Coast Guard Authorization Act Of 2010

Floor Speech

* Mr. HIMES. Madam Chair, I rise today in favor of the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act which has been included in the base bill of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2009.

* It is expected that more than 12 million Americans will take a cruise vacation in 2009 alone. Passengers on cruises have an inadequate understanding of their potential vulnerability to crime, and those who may be victimized lack the information they need to understand their legal rights or to know who to contact for help in the immediate aftermath of a crime.

* Cruise ships, which operate under foreign flags of convenience, are not required under U.S. law to report crimes that occur outside of U.S. territorial waters.

* Travelers on water deserve the same protections as travelers on land, and taking a few extra measures to protect passengers will lead to more enjoyable, safer trips and better results for victims of crimes.

* To enhance the safety of cruise passengers, the owners of cruise vessels need to upgrade, modernize, and retrofit the safety and security infrastructure on their vessels. They need to install peep holes in passenger doors, raise standard ship railings, install security video cameras and limit access to passenger rooms.

* In addition, passenger vessel crew members must be trained on the appropriate methods for prevention, detection, evidence preservation, and reporting of criminal activities. In the event that a crime should occur, it is of utmost importance that the crime scene or any potential evidence is not tampered with before the FBI can begin its investigation.

* I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to mention my predecessor, the Honorable CHRISTOPHER SHAYS, and the fight he began to improve safety on cruise ships and protect cruise ship passengers years ago. Congressman SHAYS took on this charge after one of our constituents, George Smith, was the victim of a crime in international waters while on his honeymoon in 2005. The investigation surrounding Mr. Smith's disappearance remains open to this day. Had the safety improvements and post-incident regulations mandated by the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act been in place in 2005, this horrible tragedy might have been prevented. I proudly stand alongside the Smith family and the Cruise Victims Association as they continue their fight for justice every day. Together, we work to honor Mr. Smith's death so no family will ever have to suffer again from this type of tragic crime.

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