Sen. Charles Schumer of New York called for a “Bill of Rights” protecting cruise passengers in a media briefing yesterday.

Strangely, Sen. Schumer asked for trained medical crews onboard and backup power generators, plus other measures to protect passengers – all of which are already in place.

The “Bill of Rights” follows a March 14 letter from Sen. Jay Rockefeller to Micky Arison, chairman and CEO of Carnival Corporation, expressing the Senator’s concerns about cruise ship safety and requesting information from Carnival on safety measures regarding the Triumph and other Carnival vessels.

The Senator also asked whether Carnival intends to reimburse the Coast Guard and the Navy for expenses incurred when responding to the Splendor and Triumph incidents.

Attached with the letter was a list of 90 incidents involving Coast Guard investigations of cruise ships since 2008.