Well there is some sanity and common sense in Washington DC after all!  Of course, it still has to navigate the halls of the Senate & be signed into law but at least there's hope that she won't rot tied up as a hotel on some Florida causeway.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130925/NEWS010801/309250185/House-passes-bill-let-Delta-Queen-ply-U-S-rivers-again

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/sep/26/house-passes-bill-lets-delta-queen-cruise/

Certainly good news to have made it this far and hopefully it will become great news when passed into law.

I wonder if the British government will be willing to make a similar exemption for the Medway Queen.

They don't have the authority. Have to ask the European Parliament.