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119-s-2536119th CongressWALLET

Safeguarding American Tourism Act

Sponsored By: Senator Lee, Mike [R-UT]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would exempt very large cruise ships from certain U.S. maritime safety and coastwise rules. It would also ease how foreign crewmembers are allowed to land and clarify that some citizenship and Navy Reserve tests do not apply to passenger vessels with 800 or more berths.

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  • Cruise operators: Vessels with 800 or more passenger berths would be outside specified Passenger Vessel Safety Act domestic requirements and would no longer be subject to certain Jones Act coastwise restrictions, allowing those large ships to transport passengers between U.S. ports directly or via a foreign port.
  • Foreign crewmembers: Changes to the Immigration and Nationality Act replace discretionary language so an officer "may" authorize landings, tie the landing period to a valid, unexpired visa, and allow crew to land on the vessel they arrived on or a different vessel.
  • Maritime law scope: Title 46 is amended so subsections on citizenship and Navy Reserve requirements do not apply to vessels with 800 or more berths, and a rule of construction says no other U.S. laws are exempted except as stated.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Fewer rules for big cruise ships

If enacted, cruise ship owners would face fewer domestic maritime rules for vessels with 800 or more passenger berths. These ships would be exempt from parts of the Passenger Vessel Safety Act, Jones Act coastwise requirements, and some citizenship and Navy Reserve rules when carrying passengers between U.S. ports, directly or via a foreign port. The change would take effect upon enactment and would lower some compliance costs for owners and operators.

Easier shore leave for noncitizen crew

If enacted, immigration officers could allow noncitizen crewmembers to land while their valid, unexpired visa lasts, if the officer is satisfied they intend to depart. Crew could land on the vessel or aircraft they arrived on or on a different one. This would take effect upon enactment and would make temporary shore leave clearer for crew and carriers.

Limits to the bill's exemptions

If enacted, the bill would say its changes do not remove other U.S. laws unless an exemption is explicitly written. Courts and agencies would be limited to treating only the exemptions the bill lists as valid. This would take effect upon enactment and would reduce broad readings of the new exemptions.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lee, Mike [R-UT]

UT • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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