b'Continued from page 4: Letter from the PresidentStaff Liaison: Peter Lauridsen,chant Marine and Fisheries of the U.S.PVAmembershavecometoexpect peterlauridsen@msn.com, HouseofRepresentatives.Richardand rely on. I cant tell you how much Eric Christensen,was also a personal aide to Committeeweappreciateyourongoingsupport echristensen@passengervessel.com Chairman Walter B. Jones.of PVA. Your membership allows us to adequately represent your interests PVA Safety and PVA SUMMER on Capitol Hill, with the U.S. Coast Security Committee BILLING PROGRAM Guardandotherfederalagencies The PVA Safety and Security Com- This month you will receive an invoicethroughout the year. It also allows us mittee develops and produces trainingfor your 2024 PVA member dues un- to develop training products and tools products,guidelines,andtoolsforder the Summer Billing Program. Thistoassistyoudirectlyinyouropera-PVAmemberuse.Thecommitteeprogramwasestablishedmanyyearstions. Thank you for your support.also undertakes and publishes studiesagotoallowmemberstopaytheir on issues and problems facing passen- membership dues at the height of theirIwishyoutheverybestforthere-ger vessel operations. seasons. This year, the PVA Board ofmaining summer season.Directorsapprovedamodestthree Chair: Christian Myers, Interstate (3)percentincreaseindueswhichSincerely,Navigation, Wakefield, R.I. you will notice on your invoice. The Vice Chair: Craig Parkhurst,board felt that this minimal increase Hornblower Group, Chicago, Ill. wasnecessaryforPVAtocontinue Staff Liaison: Eric Christensen, to provide the ever-growing array ofJames P. Swindlerechristensen@passengervessel.com memberservicesandprogramsthatPVA President, 2023I have participated as a member of the PVA Legislative Committee for quite a few years and have found it to be a very rewarding experience. Whatever your interest, I encourage you to con-tribute your time and energy to PVA as a volunteer.PVAS HAS A NEWLEGISLATIVE DIRECTORAs you know, Ed Welch has decided to slow his pace of work with PVA and make room for a new legislative direc-tor to step in. As a result, I am thrilled to welcome Richard Patch to PVA as our new legislative director. Richard comes to us with extensive Congres-sionalexperienceinWashington,When you need D.C., having worked as vice president,to design modern Federal Affairs for the American So- crew and passenger ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty toaccommodations for Animals where he led a team of lobby- increased comfort ists and government relations profes- and sustainability.sionals. Interestingly, Richard and Ed are well acquainted as both were staff members on the Committee on Mer- crowley.com/interiordesign59 AUGUST 2023'