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Public Law117th CongressTransportation and Public Works
H.R. 1318Became Law

Alaska Tourism Restoration Act

This bill became law

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Law

What it doesSummary public law (May 24, 2021)

Alaska Tourism Restoration Act

This bill temporarily allows specific foreign-owned and foreign-flagged cruise ships to transport passengers directly between ports in the states of Washington and Alaska without stopping in Canada. Under current law, these ships cannot transport passengers from one U.S. port to another without stopping in a foreign country.

The bill deems a round trip voyage between ports in the states of Washington and Alaska as a foreign voyage if (1) during the voyage, the operators of such voyage send U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency an email containing the names of each alien crew member with a valid nonimmigrant work visa; and (2) the voyage begins not later than February 28, 2022. The operators of these voyages must also retain a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and operate in accordance with CDC restrictions associated with the certificate.

Authority to conduct these voyages shall terminate on March 31, 2022, or when Canada lifts its COVID-related restrictions, whichever occurs first. Voyages may not occur during any period for which the CDC has issued an order to suspend cruise ship operations.

The bill also directs the Department of Transportation to require, through regulations, the installation of automated external defibrillators on passenger vessels (including cruise ships), among other requirements.

What just happenedMay 24, 2021

Became Public Law No: 117-14.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Young, Don [R-AK-At Large](R-AK)Sponsor
Read on Congress.gov
1committees20actions1amendments1related bills11subjects
  1. May 24, 2021President

    Became Public Law No: 117-14.

  2. May 24, 2021BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 117-14.

  3. May 24, 2021President

    Signed by President.

  4. May 24, 2021BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. May 24, 2021Floor

    Presented to President.

  6. May 24, 2021President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. May 20, 2021Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. May 20, 2021Floor

    Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3186-3187)

  9. May 20, 2021Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S3186-3187)

  10. May 20, 2021FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  11. May 20, 2021FloorH37100

    On passage Passed without objection. (text: CR H2632)

  12. May 20, 2021Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text: CR H2632)

  13. May 20, 2021FloorH30000

    Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H2632-2633)

  14. May 20, 2021DischargeH12300

    Committee on Transportation discharged.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  15. May 20, 2021Committee5500

    Committee on Transportation discharged.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  16. May 20, 2021FloorH30200

    Mr. DeFazio asked unanimous consent to discharge from committee and consider.

  17. Feb 25, 2021Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

    Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee
  18. Feb 24, 2021IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  19. Feb 24, 2021IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  20. Feb 24, 2021IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Public LawMay 24, 202149

Alaska Tourism Restoration Act

This bill temporarily allows specific foreign-owned and foreign-flagged cruise ships to transport passengers directly between ports in the states of Washington and Alaska without stopping in Canada. Under current law, these ships cannot transport passengers from one U.S. port to another without stopping in a foreign country.

The bill deems a round trip voyage between ports in the states of Washington and Alaska as a foreign voyage if (1) during the voyage, the operators of such voyage send U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency an email containing the names of each alien crew member with a valid nonimmigrant work visa; and (2) the voyage begins not later than February 28, 2022. The operators of these voyages must also retain a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and operate in accordance with CDC restrictions associated with the certificate.

Authority to conduct these voyages shall terminate on March 31, 2022, or when Canada lifts its COVID-related restrictions, whichever occurs first. Voyages may not occur during any period for which the CDC has issued an order to suspend cruise ship operations.

The bill also directs the Department of Transportation to require, through regulations, the installation of automated external defibrillators on passenger vessels (including cruise ships), among other requirements.

Passed HouseMay 20, 202153

Alaska Tourism Restoration Act

This bill temporarily allows specific foreign-owned and foreign-flagged cruise ships to transport passengers directly between ports in the states of Washington and Alaska without stopping in Canada. Under current law, these ships cannot transport passengers from one U.S. port to another without stopping in a foreign country.

The bill deems a round trip voyage between ports in the states of Washington and Alaska as a foreign voyage if (1) during the voyage, the operators of such voyage send U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency an email containing the names of each alien crew member with a valid nonimmigrant work visa; and (2) the voyage begins not later than February 28, 2022. The operators of these voyages must also retain a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Authority to conduct these voyages shall terminate on March 31, 2022, or when Canada lifts its COVID-related restrictions, whichever occurs first. Voyages may not occur during any period for which the CDC has issued an order to suspend cruise ship operations.

The bill also directs the Department of Transportation to require, through regulations, the installation of automated external defibrillators on passenger vessels (including cruise ships).

Passed SenateMay 20, 202155

Alaska Tourism Restoration Act

This bill temporarily allows specific foreign-owned and foreign-flagged cruise ships to transport passengers directly between ports in the states of Washington and Alaska without stopping in Canada. Under current law, these ships cannot transport passengers from one U.S. port to another without stopping in a foreign country.

The bill deems a round trip voyage between ports in the states of Washington and Alaska as a foreign voyage if (1) during the voyage, the operators of such voyage send U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency an email containing the names of each alien crew member with a valid nonimmigrant work visa; and (2) the voyage begins not later than February 28, 2022. The operators of these voyages must also retain a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Authority to conduct these voyages shall terminate on March 31, 2022, or when Canada lifts its COVID-related restrictions, whichever occurs first. Voyages may not occur during any period for which the CDC has issued an order to suspend cruise ship operations.

The bill also directs the Department of Transportation to require, through regulations, the installation of automated external defibrillators on passenger vessels (including cruise ships).

Introduced in HouseFeb 24, 2021

Alaska Tourism Recovery Act

This bill temporarily allows foreign-owned and flagged cruise ships to transport passengers directly between ports in the states of Washington and Alaska without stopping in Canada. Under current law, these ships cannot transport passengers from one U.S. port to another without stopping in a foreign country. The bill deems a round trip voyage between ports in the states of Washington and Alaska as a foreign voyage.

The bill applies to any foreign voyage that begins any date prior to February 28, 2022, on which Canada prohibits a vessel from entering, berthing, or docking in Canadian waters of the Pacific Coast due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alaska Tourism Restoration Act — Informed