On to the House!!!

SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN. Let's all contact our Representatives, so that when they get back from their spring break - they'll know we've been busy. Tonight's focus is on Kentucky. Do you live in or have family and friends in Kentucky. Thomas Massie who's District is just East of Louisville and all the way along the Ohio River to West Virginia is on the Transportation Committee. PLEASE call his office at 202-225-3465 and ask him to not only co-sponsor H.R. 619 but to also do everything possible to get it out of committee. James Comer's District is from Henderson west all along the Ohio River and then south along the Mississippi River. His District covers Paducah, where the DELTA QUEEN stops nearly every time up and down the river. His number is 202-225-3115. Next is Brett Guthrie. His District covers Brandenburg, where the boats have been making stops and goes all the way to Owensboro. His number is 202-225-3501. Don't think someone else will take care of this. ONLY because YOU made the effort did the Senate pass the bill with such an overwhelming majority. Let's do the same in the House!!!!! Thanks and please SHARE!!!

SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN! We need to keep the momentum going after the win in the Senate last Monday. Below is information on the Ohio Representatives that need to be targeted for call, emails, and faxes. Of course, we can't thank Steve Chabot enough for sponsoring H.R. 619. Already there are three co-sponsors from Ohio. Bill Johnson, Brad Wenstrup, and Jim Renacci. Bob Gibbs is on the Transportation Committee. His number is 202-225-6265. It is so important to make sure he knows the importance of getting this bill out of committee and on the floor for a vote as soon as possible! There were five other co-sponsors from Ohio before, that are not co-sponsors this time. If you live in Ohio please contact these folks and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 619. Robert Latta 202-225-6405, Michael Turner 202-225-6465, Pat Tiberi 202-225-5355, David Joyce 202-225-5731, and Steve Stivers 202-225-2015. Thank you and PLEASE SHARE. Ask all your family, friends and neighbors to call too.

West Virginia needs to step up to the plate to HELP SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN! There are three districts in West Virginia. All three Districts border the Ohio River. ALL THREE Representatives from West Virginia should be interested in the DELTA QUEEN running again. They are David McKinley, who's district runs from Parkersburg all the way up to East Liverpool. His number is 202-225-4172. Alex Mooney's district runs from the Ohio River to the Charleston area. The DELTA QUEEN is one of a few overnight passenger boats that can go to Charleston. His number is 202-225-2711. Evan Jenkins' number is 202-225-3452. His district runs from the Kentucky line to above Gallipolis. If you live in West Virginia or have family or friends that live in West Virginia, please call or email these Representatives and ask them to not only support H.R. 619, but to co-sponsor it as well. Thank you and Please SHARE!

Illinois U.S. Representatives can help SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN. There are four of them on the Transportation Committee. Three of these have districts along the Mississippi and/or the Illinois River (yes, she travels on the Illinois River all the way to Ottawa, IL). If you live in Mike Bost's District which includes Cairo up to Wood River, please call him at 202-225-5661. Rodney Davis District is north of Wood River up several miles including Grafton, where she has stopped several times. His number is 202-225-2371. North of Mr. Davis' District belongs to Darin LaHood. His District then runs up to Fort Madison across from the Missouri/Iowa state line. His number is 202-225-6201. The rest of the state along the Mississippi River is covered by Cheri Bustos, which also includes up the Illinois River to around Peoria. Her number is 202-225-5905. H.R. 619 should also be of interest to Adam Kinzinger, as his District includes Ottawa, where many cruises start and end for the DELTA QUEEN. His number is 202-225-3635. Also on the Committee is Daniel Lipinski. His number is 202-225-5701. So if you live or have any family or friends in these Districts, NOW is the time to contact by phone or email these folks, asking them to not only support the exemption Bill # H.R. 619, but to also co-sponsor the bill. Thank you and PLEASE share.

SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN. Minnesota and Wisconsin, she needs your help! Minnesota has four Representatives that should be pushing for H.R. 619, the exemption for the DELTA QUEEN. Tim Walz's District is from the Iowa line moving upriver two counties. His number is 202-225-2472. Jason Lewis is on the Transportation Committee. His District includes Red Wing. Many cruises in and out of St. Paul/Minneapolis stops in Red Wing (a very lovely town). His number is 202-225-2271. Betty McCollum represents St. Paul and Keith Ellison represents Minneapolis. Ms. McCollum's number is 202-225-6631. Mr. Ellison's number is 202-225-4755. Of course, folks use the hotels and airport when arriving and leaving cruises. Wisconsin has one Representative along the Mississippi River where the DELTA QUEEN travels. Of particular note is La Crosse, where she has made numerous stops over the years. I love the park at their riverfront. Ron Kind is that Representative. His number is 202-225-5506. Of course, the House Majority Leader is from Wisconsin. He should be encouraged to help H.R. 619 along as much as he can. His number is 202-225-3031. PLEASE CALL, EMAIL AND SHARE. Thank you so much.

The campaign to HELP SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN continues. Missouri has five districts that border the Mississippi River. But most important is Sam Graves, who is on the Transportation Committee. And his District borders the Mississippi above St. Louis. So if you are in his District or know someone that is, please call his office at 202-225-7041 and ask him to not only support the bill, but to also become a co-sponsor and do all he can to get it out of Committee as soon as possible and on the floor for a vote. There are three co-sponsors from Missouri already. Please call and thank them for their support. They are Jason Smith. His number is 202-225-4404. Wm. Clay is also a co-sponsor. His number is 202-225-2406. And Blaine Leutkemeyer is a co-sponsor. His number is 202-225-2956. There is one other Representative that has a District that borders the Mississippi. Her name is Ann Wagner. She represents the area of South St. Louis. Her number is 202-225-1621. THANK each of you for your help. Please contact these folks and ask your family and friends to contact them as well. Also they have links from their webpages to send an email. PLEASE SHARE.

Today would have been a Beeeaaauuutteeeffuulll steamboatin' day here in the Ohio River Valley. By this time next year, with your help, contacting your Representatives we can make it happen !!! Iowa has two Districts with Representatives along the Mississippi River. Rod Blum is already a co-sponsor of H.R. 619. Please call him at 202-225-2911 to thank him for his support. David Loebsack represents the southern part of the state bordering the River. Please call him at 202-225-4426 to ask him to not only support H.R. 619, but to also co-sponsor it. Arkansas has three Districts that have Representatives that should be interested in the DELTA QUEEN running again. They are Rick Crawford who represents the length of the state bordering the Mississippi River. His number is 202-225-4076. Many may not know, but the DELTA QUEEN has turnover days in Little Rock. So therefore, folks fly in and out of the airport there. I personally, have gotten on the DQ in Little Rock and spent the night at a local hotel before boarding there. The Representative for the Little Rock area is French Hill. His number is 202-225-2506. And believe it or not the DELTA QUEEN actually goes to Fort Smith (and beyond). That District is represented by Steve Womack. His number is 202-225-4301. If you live in these Districts or have family or friends that live in any of them, please call or email these Representatives and ask not only that they support H.R. 619, but that they co-sponsor H.R. 619 as well.

Tennessee has 6 Districts that have river frontage where the DELTA QUEEN travels and stops. Let's ask these Representatives to support H.R. 619 to HELP SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN. One is co-sponsor Steve Cohen of Memphis. Please call him 202-225-3265 to thank him. David Kustoff has the rest of the Mississippi River. His number is 202-225-4714. Marsha Blackburn represents Clarksville and surrounding area. Her number is 202-225-2811, Jim Cooper has Nashville, where the boat has turnover day when she goes up the Cumberland River. Folks fly in and out of their airport and spend the night before and after. His number is 202-225-4311. Scott DesJarlais represents the South Pittsburgh area. Many times when the boat can not get to Chattanooga she would land at South Pittsburgh. His number is 202-225-6831. Chuck Fleischman represents Chattanooga. Of course this was her lovely home from 2009 until 2015. We had many happy reunions on the North Shore. The folks in the shops were always so kind when we visited. Her turnover day up the Tennessee ends there. Therefore turnover day with airport and hotel use. His number is 202-225-3271. PLEASE contact these folks by phone or email. Ask them to support H.R. 619, but also ask them to co-sponsor the bill. Please ask your family and friends who live in these Districts to do the same. PLEASE SHARE. Thank you.

The Representatives from the State of Mississippi can certainly HELP SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN by supporting H.R. 619. There are four Districts in Mississippi and the DELTA QUEEN cruises by and/or stops in all four!!! Trent Kelly represents where the river flows at the very Northwest corner of the state. His number is 202-225-4306. Bennie Thompson represents Tunica, Greenville and Vicksburg. His number is 202-225-5876. Gregg Harper represents Natchez and south. His number is 202-225-5031. Though Steven Palazzo represents Gulfport, Pascagoula, Biloxi, she has cruised through those water in the inland passage. His number is 202-225-5772. If you live in Mississippi or have family or friends that live there please ask them to contact these Representatives and ask them to not only support H.R. 619, but they should be interested enough to Co-Sponsor the Bill. Thank you very much. PLEASE SHARE!

There is a great article in the Times Free Press. Just google Delta Queen news. Alabama can help make this happen. Four of their Representatives should have a vested interest in seeing her run again. Mo Brooks District along the Tennessee River includes Florence and Decatur. His number is 202-225-4801. Also along the Tennessee River including Guntersville Lake is Robert Aderhold. His number is 202-225-4876. Terri Sewell's District includes Demopolis and surrounding area. Her number is 202-225-2665. Bradley Byrne represents Mobile and up the river from there. His number is 202-225-4931. So if you live in any of these areas or have family and friends in these areas, please ask them to call these Representatives and encourage them to not only support H.R. 619, the exemption for the DELTA QUEEN, but to also co-sponsor the bill. Thank you for your help and PLEASE SHARE

Louisiana has SIX Representatives that should be VERY interested in the DELTA QUEEN running again. Cedric Richmond has much of the New Orleans area and up the River Road. His number is 202-225-6636. From the Arkansas line all the way down to Port Hudson is what area Ralph Abraham represents. His number is 202-225-8490. Garret Graves represents the Baton Rouge area. Mr. Graves is also on the Transportation Committee and could be a great help. His number is 202-225-3901. The Natchitoches and Shreveport area is represented by Mike Johnson. His number is 202-225-2777. Steve Scalise represents some of the New Orleans suburbs and all the way down to Pilot Town. His number is 202-225-3015. The Intercoastal Waterway across Southern Louisiana is represented by Clay Higgins. His number is 202-225-2031. PLEASE urge these folks to co-sponsor H.R. 619 in the U.S. House of Representatives, the exemption for the DELTA QUEEN. Please ask all your family and friends to call, email, or fax them as well. THANK YOU SO MUCH. PLEASE SHARE.

Did you know the DELTA QUEEN goes to Texas? Yes, she has been over to Galveston several times. Have you heard of Dickens on the Strand? This is a Holiday Celebration that the DELTA QUEEN would attend. Randy Weber, who is the Representative for Galveston is also on the SubCommittee of the Transportation Committee where H.R.619 is awaiting to be moved from. His number is 202-225-2831. Please call, fax or email him your support of H.R. 619 and ask him to co-sponsor as well. Please SHARE and ask all your family and friends to do the same. Thank you so much.

H.R. 619, the Exemption for the DELTA QUEEN. There are other ways you can HELP SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN. We have covered important Representatives that have Districts along the rivers. Think of how helpful it would be if entities in those Districts contacted those Representatives too. For example, the City Fathers of Madison, Indiana. The DELTA QUEEN stops nearly every time she goes up and down the Ohio River in Madison. Do you live in Madison or Jefferson County, Indiana? Please ask the Mayor to call the Representative from that area. What about a Downtown Shop Owners group? Or even individual shop owners? Do they have a City Council? Ask the Council to make that call. What about County Commissioners? Ask them to call. Are there Historical Societies or Museums in the area? It would be helpful if the leaders of those organizations would call. So if you live in or near a river community that would like to see the DELTA QUEEN come back to your area please contact any entity that might benefit. You can make a difference. Enlist the help of your family or best friend. Ask them to help make these calls. It's a real snowball effect. The more folks that call and folks that represent governments, merchants, museums, the more the Representatives will sit up and listen. Please feel free to IM me if you have any questions. Or if you need phone numbers I have all Representatives numbers at hand. THANKS SO MUCH for your help and interest. PLEASE SHARE.

The effort continues to HELP SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN! To help make it easier to reach out to your U.S. Representative if you live in a river state, here is an example of your email, fax or phone call to them. This will include Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. Whether you live along the river or not, or have a Representative from a District that borders any of the rivers where she travels they should still be interested in helping something that would be good for their State:
"Clearly Senator ______ and Senator _______ understood that the Delta Queen was important to the State of _____________ as both voted for S. 89. I am asking you to join your two Senators in helping to Save the Delta Queen by cosponsoring and actively supporting HR 619!"
If you live in Illinois or West Virginia: "Clearly Senator Capito (West Virginia) and Senator Duckworth (Illinois) understood that the Delta Queen was important to the State of ______ as they voted for S. 89. I am asking you to join them in helping Save the Delta Queen by co-sponsoring and actively supported HR 619!"
Note the reason West Virginia and Illinois is separate is because one of the Senators from each of those two states voted against S 89.
Congress will be back in session this week after a two week spring break. They have lots of issues to deal with - but we need to keep the DELTA QUEEN in the forefront. Please contact them this week or even follow up from previous contact. Keep the dialogue going. Be sure to ask all your family and friends to do the same. PLEASE SHARE!!!! 😉

This was taken from the SAVE THE DELTA QUEEN Face Book page:
A Guide to Effective Engagement
The following guidelines, given by a senior staffer for a U.S. Senator, were compiled by a NARP Council Member. We believe it contains very useful information on how to best engage with your elected officials.
Face Time Is Ideal
By far the most effective way to be heard and get your congressperson’s attention is to have a face-to-face meeting. If they have town hall meetings in the district, go to them. Or ask for an appointment and go to their local offices. If you’re in Washington, find a way to go to one of their public events (such as a constituent coffee). Check each congressperson’s website regularly because all public events are listed there. When
you go, ask questions—lots of them—and push for answers. Be respectful and polite, but the louder and more vocal you can be at those meetings the better.
But Phone Calls Work Best
In-person meetings with members of Congress don’t happen every day, so the most important thing to do on a regular basis is telephone their office. Members of Congress pay attention to telephone calls. Every single day in our office, the Senior Staff and the Senator get a report on the three most-called-about topics for that day at each of their offices—that is, the Washington office and the local offices—and exactly how many
people said what about each of those topics. They’re also sorted by zip code and area code.
One Call Isn’t Enough
Call Repeatedly. If there’s an important vote or committee hearing coming up, call every day. But as long as important legislation is being considered, call several times a week. Remember, someone in that office is keeping track of how many calls they’re getting and for which issues.
What to Say When You Call
Talk to the Right Person: When calling the Washington office, ask for the staff member in charge of transportation. The local offices won’t always have specific ones, but they might. If you get transferred to that person, wonderful. But if they’re busy or out of the office, get their name, and then just keep talking to whoever answered the phone. Don’t leave a message unless the office doesn’t pick up at all —but it’s much better to
talk to the staff person who first answered than leave a message for the specific individual in charge of your topic.
Give Them Your ZIP Code: They won’t always ask for it, but make sure you give it to them, so they can mark it down. Extra points if you live in a zip code that traditionally votes for them, since they’ll want to make sure they get/keep your vote.
Make It Personal: “I voted for you in the last election and I’m worried/happy/whatever… ” Or “I work in tourism, and I am appalled by cuts to Amtrak.”
Focus on Something Specific: Don’t run down a whole list. Stick to one or possibly two items per phone call, ideally something that will be voted on or taken up for consideration in the following few days. But call anyway, even if there’s no vote coming up. The important thing is that they get phone calls.
Be Clear About Your Concerns: “I’m extremely disappointed that the senator voted to reduce the already inadequate investment in passenger trains.” “Please thank the Congressman on my behalf for voting for Amtrak’s national network grant.”
Don’t Be Intimidated
The staff may get to know your name and you may feel they’re sick of hearing from you. It doesn’t matter. Call again anyway. The reality is that the people answering the phones—often college interns—generally turn over every six weeks anyway, so even if they’re really sick of you, they’ll be gone in six weeks.
It’s a Numbers Game
The senior staff person for a major political figure said that Republican callers generally outnumber Democrat callers 4-1, and when it’s a hot button issue that single-issue-voters pay attention to (like gun control, immigration, etc...), it’s often closer to 11-1. These calls have been incredibly effective at swaying party attitudes on these issues, and it’s a playbook worth copying from.
THANK YOU for reading this. NOW make that call and ask all your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, etc. to call too. Long Live the DELTA QUEEN!

Sharing from another supporters post: As most of you may know the House is in recess this week and the Representatives should be back in their districts meeting with constituents. Now would be a good time to call the local office and ask for support of HR 619.
If you're calling Robert Latta, Patrick Tiberi or David Joyce from Ohio or David McKinley from West Virginia remind them that they co-sponsored the 2013 and 2015 bills and ask why they aren't signed on with the 2017 bill.
If you're calling Sam Graves from Missouri, Scott DesJarlais from Tennessee or Bruce Westerman from Arkansas remind them they co-sponsored the 2015 bill.
If we can get them back we'll be adding 7 new co-sponsors which helps us get needed support.

30 co-sponsors; how do we get it marked up for a vote? With this many co-sponsors, I would think it could get out of committee and marked up for a vote? Would be nice to have over 50 co-sponsors though! (then there would be as many co-sponsors as there are states)

We are now up to 36 co-sponsored but still no sign of movement in committee. With all the other happenings going on hopefully we'll see something in September when they get back from recess.