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119-hr-2922119th CongressWALLET

Hammers' Law

Sponsored By: Representative Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]

Introduced

Summary

Limits legal damages for certain large cruise ship voyages by applying the same damage caps used for commercial aviation. The Hammers' Law would add cruise ship voyages to 46 U.S.C. § 30307, define "cruise ship" as a passenger vessel that carries at least 250 passengers, has sleeping facilities for each passenger, embarks or disembarks passengers in the United States, and is not on a coastwise voyage, and define "nonpecuniary damages" as damages for loss of care, comfort, and companionship so those damages would be subject to the existing aviation-style limits.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Limits on certain cruise passenger lawsuits

If enacted, some cruise trips would face the same limits on nonpecuniary damages as commercial aviation cases. If you are a passenger on a qualifying voyage, you could get less money for loss of care, comfort, or companionship. It would apply only to cruise ships that carry at least 250 passengers, have a bed for each passenger, start or end in the United States, and are not on a coastwise voyage. Government or state-owned vessels would be excluded. The bill would take effect upon enactment and adds definitions for "cruise ship" and "nonpecuniary damages."

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]

NE • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]

    NJ • R

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

  • Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 4/17/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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