U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown, and Rob Portman want to allow the Delta Queen to carry passengers on overnight trips on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, according to news releases from Brown, a Democrat, and Portman, a Republican. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Steve Chabot, R-Westwood and Brad Wenstrup, R-Columbia-Tusculum.

The 1966 Safety at Sea law prohibits wooden ships of a certain size— such as the Delta Queen—from carrying passengers on overnight trips. The Ohio lawmakers’ proposed bill would grant a 15-year exemption to this rule, which was standard practice until 2008.

“The Delta Queen’s legacy is rooted in Cincinnati and the city should play a role in her future,” Brown said. “Restoration of this ship would pump money back into Ohio River towns while returning the Delta Queen to Cincinnati’s Riverfront where it belongs.”