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Bill117th CongressFiled Mar 4, 2021Transportation and Public Works
S. 593

Alaska Tourism Restoration Act

Bill journey · stage 1 of 5

Just introduced

Filed
Comm.
Floor
Both
Law

What it doesSummary passed senate (May 13, 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).

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).

What just happenedMay 17, 2021

Held at the desk.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK](R-AK)Sponsor
1 cosponsor1 R
Read on Congress.gov
1cosponsors1committees10actions4amendments1related bills11subjects
  1. May 17, 2021FloorH15000

    Held at the desk.

  2. May 17, 2021FloorH14000

    Received in the House.

  3. May 17, 2021Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  4. May 13, 2021Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2510)

  5. May 13, 2021Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.(text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2510)

  6. May 13, 2021Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2510-2512)

  7. May 13, 2021Discharge

    Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  8. May 13, 2021Committee14500

    Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation discharged by Unanimous Consent.

    Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  9. Mar 4, 2021IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

    Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  10. Mar 4, 2021IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Passed SenateMay 13, 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 SenateMar 4, 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