After passing the U.S. Senate, the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act passes the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R. 1318 was introduced on February 24th. It aims to restrict the imposition by the Secretary of Homeland Security of fines, penalties, duties, or tariffs applicable only to coastwise voyages, or prohibit otherwise qualified non-United States citizens from serving as crew, on specified vessels transporting passengers between Washington state and Alaska. It also aims to restrict the impacts of the Canadian cruise ship ban and the resulting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Alaskan communities.
Congressman Don Young on the House Floor:
🚨BREAKING🚨
H.R. 1318, my bill w/@lisamurkowski & @SenDanSullivan has passed! Cruise lines will no longer be required to first stop in Canada before setting sail to Alaska!
They counted us out, but the Alaska Delegation should NEVER be under estimated.
🛳️Next stop: @POTUS!🛳️ pic.twitter.com/d1Wldng1O8
— Rep. Don Young (@repdonyoung) May 20, 2021
The bill’s criteria states that for a voyage deemed to be foreign for any point prior to February 28, 2022, a roundtrip cruise transporting passengers between a port or place in the state of Alaska and a port or place in the state of Washington is deemed a voyage for the purposes of U.S. law.
Big news for Alaska! My legislation, the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act—which provides a temporary fix to grant cruise ships the opportunity to travel between the states of Washington and Alaska—will now head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. pic.twitter.com/Cknwp32965
— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) May 20, 2021
The bill now goes to the desk of President Joe Biden. If it’s signed, cruise lines no longer would have to be required to first stop in Canada before setting sail to Alaska.
The Alaska Tourism Restoration Act—allowing cruise ships to sail to AK—is on its way to @POTUS. Thx to my colleagues for helping Alaskans in need—small business owners who were on the brink or ruin. To America: Alaska is open! The time is now for the experience of a lifetime.
— Sen. Dan Sullivan (@SenDanSullivan) May 20, 2021
