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117-hr-1318117th CongressWALLET

Alaska Tourism Restoration Act

Sponsored By: Representative Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]

Became Law

Summary

Restores Alaska cruise tourism by allowing certain Alaska–Washington roundtrips to be treated as foreign voyages. It also strengthens ship safety by requiring automated external defibrillators and access rules on covered vessels.

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  • Alaska communities and tourism operators: Allows specific roundtrip itineraries to count as foreign voyages for U.S. law when the ship holds a CDC COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate and sends the required notice, helping those sailings operate despite Canadian restrictions. This authority applies only to voyages that begin no later than Feb 28, 2022 and ends no later than March 31, 2022 or when Canada lifts its ban.
  • Covered cruise lines and vessels: The law lists covered ships by name and IMO number and limits the treatment to vessels that have and follow a CDC Conditional Sailing Certificate. The law preserves an exception for duties or taxes on goods purchased on board.
  • Crew members with C or D nonimmigrant visas: If the required email names qualifying crew, each such crew member is treated as having departed to Canada and been readmitted to the United States on that date for purposes of the visa's 29-day authorized stay.
  • Passengers and safety regulators: Adds 46 U.S.C. 3510 to require automated external defibrillators on vessels covered by section 3507, with regulations to be issued within 1 year in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies. AEDs must be installed, maintained, clearly located, available to passengers and crew, and include ways to contact vessel medical staff.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Cruise ships must have defibrillators

The law requires covered passenger ships to install and maintain defibrillators (AEDs) in working order. The Secretary, in consultation with Health and Human Services, issues rules within 1 year of enactment. Devices sit in clear, marked spots. Passengers and crew can reach them in an emergency. Nearby equipment must let people quickly contact the ship’s medical staff.

Crew visa relief for Alaska cruises

Certain Alaska–Washington roundtrip cruises count as foreign voyages and as a stop in Canada. The ship must be on the law’s covered list and have a CDC Conditional Sailing Certificate. The voyage must start by February 28, 2022. During the trip, the ship emails a list of crew with valid C or D visas to Canada’s border agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and each listed crew member. On that email date, those crew are treated as having left the U.S., entered Canada, and reentered, so their 29‑day stay resets. This does not change duties or taxes on goods bought for use on the ship. The rule does not apply while CDC has suspended covered ship operations. It ends when Canada lets covered cruise ships enter Pacific Coast waters again, or March 31, 2022, whichever comes first.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Young, Don [R-AK-At Large]

AK • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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