# 119-hr-4857: Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2025 119-hr-4857, Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2025, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7] (D-CA); status in_committee; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-04-21). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4857 - As of: 2026-04-21 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: 119-hr-4857 - Congress: 119 - Title: Cruise Passenger Protection Act of 2025 - Status: in_committee - Introduced: 2025-08-01 - Sponsor: Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7] (D-CA) - Cosponsors: 1 - Policy area: Transportation and Public Works - Touches household money: yes - Last recorded action: 2026-04-21 ## Summary **Bolsters cruise passenger consumer protections.** The bill would create a new Office of Maritime Consumer Protection, require clear ticket summaries, set public incident and complaint reporting, ban predispute arbitration and class-action waivers, and establish victim support services and stricter enforcement. - Passengers and families: Would require owners to give a formatted contract summary before a binding ticket, post the summary on booking sites, and publish monthly complaint and incident data by vessel. - Victims and relatives: Would create a Director of Victim Support Services with a 24/7 toll-free hotline, require written rights summaries and immediate confidential support, and coordinate with DOJ, embassies, and local service providers. - Owners, operators, and law enforcement: Would require owners to notify the FBI and U.S. consulate within 4 hours for incidents involving U.S. passengers, tighten surveillance and video-retention rules to as long as 1 year, and allow civil penalties up to $25,000 per day and criminal penalties up to $250,000 or 1 year imprisonment. ## Cosponsors (1) - Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2025-09-26T00:00:00.000Z ## Provisions PRIA read - 24/7 victim help and faster reporting: benefit, medium. The bill would create a Director of Victim Support Services with a 24/7 toll‑free number. The office would help arrange counseling, legal advocacy, and reporting support for U.S. citizen passengers who report covered incidents. Cruise owners would have to call the FBI within 4 hours of learning of… - Clearer cruise contracts and complaint tools: benefit, medium. This bill would set up a new DOT office to handle cruise passenger complaints and enforcement. It would create a toll‑free hotline and an online incident website that lists complaints and alleged crimes by ship and updates at least monthly. Cruise lines would have to post these links on booking pag… - No forced arbitration in cruise tickets: benefit, medium. This bill would ban ticket terms that block class actions before a dispute happens. Arbitration would be allowed only if everyone agrees in writing after a dispute starts. Courts, not arbitrators, would decide if arbitration applies. These rules would apply to contracts signed or renewed on or afte… - Stronger medical and safety rules onboard: benefit, medium. If enacted, ships would need enough qualified medical staff as set by regulation, and all crew would need basic life support and CPR training. Passenger‑facing crew on trips to or from U.S. ports would have to meet English listening and speaking tests; these rules would start 180 days after enactme… - Tougher enforcement against noncompliant cruise lines: mixed, medium. The bill would allow civil fines up to $25,000 per day and criminal fines up to $250,000, plus up to one year in prison for willful violations. Homeland Security could withhold or revoke a ship’s clearance and deny U.S. entry if an owner breaks the law or fails to pay penalties. Federal agencies wo… ## Related bills - 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025 - 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act - 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act - 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025 - 119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act - 119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 ## Sources - [119-hr-4857 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4857) ## Related - [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900) - [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977) - [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973) - [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151) - [119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3971) - [119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2725) - [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4857 (as of 2026-04-21).