[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 83 (Thursday, May 13, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2529-S2530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 1492. Ms. MURKOWSKI proposed an amendment to the bill S. 593, 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 the State of
Washington and the State of Alaska, to address a Canadian cruise ship
ban and the extraordinary impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Alaskan
communities, and for other purposes; as follows:
[[Page S2530]]
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Alaska Tourism Restoration
Act''.
SEC. 2. VOYAGE DEEMED TO BE FOREIGN.
(a) Definition of Covered Cruise Ship.--
(1) In general.--In this section, the term ``covered cruise
ship'' means a vessel included on the list under paragraph
(2) that--
(A) has been issued, operates in accordance with, and
retains a COVID-19 Conditional Sailing Certificate of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and
(B) operates in accordance with any restrictions or
guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
associated with such Certificate, including any such
restrictions or guidance issued after the date of enactment
of this Act.
(2) List.--The vessels listed under this paragraph are the
following:
(A) Carnival Freedom (IMO number 9333149).
(B) Carnival Miracle (IMO number 9237357).
(C) Crystal Serenity (IMO number 9243667).
(D) Discovery Princess (IMO number 9837468).
(E) Emerald Princess (IMO number 9333151).
(F) Eurodam (IMO number 9378448).
(G) Golden Horizon (IMO number 9793545).
(H) Grand Princess (IMO number 9104005).
(I) Hanseatic Inspiration (IMO number 9817145).
(J) Koningsdam (IMO number 9692557).
(K) NG Quest (IMO number 9798985).
(L) NG Sea Bird (IMO number 8966444).
(M) NG Sea Lion (IMO number 8966456).
(N) NG Venture (IMO number 9799044).
(O) Nieuw Amsterdam (IMO number 9378450).
(P) Noordam (IMO number 9230115).
(Q) Zuiderdam (IMO number 9221279).
(R) Majestic Princess (IMO number 9614141).
(S) Ovation of the Seas (IMO number 9697753).
(T) Radiance of the Seas (IMO number 9195195).
(U) Serenade of the Seas (IMO number 9228344).
(V) Eclipse (IMO number 9404314).
(W) Millennium (IMO number 9189419).
(X) Solstice (IMO number 9362530).
(Y) Norwegian Bliss (IMO number 9751509).
(Z) Norwegian Encore (IMO number 9751511).
(AA) Norwegian Jewel (IMO number 9304045).
(BB) Norwegian Spirit (IMO number 9141065).
(CC) Norwegian Sun (IMO number 9218131).
(DD) Ocean Victory (IMO number 9868869).
(EE) Pacific Princess (IMO number 9187887).
(FF) Pacific World (IMO number 9000259).
(GG) Quantum of the Seas (IMO number 9549463).
(HH) Queen Elizabeth (IMO number 9477438).
(II) Disney Wonder (IMO number 9126819).
(JJ) Regatta (IMO number 9156474).
(KK) Roald Amundsen (IMO number 9813072).
(LL) Ruby Princess (IMO number 9378462).
(MM) Sapphire Princess (IMO number 9228186).
(NN) Scenic Eclipse (IMO number 9797371).
(OO) Seabourn Odyssey (IMO number 9417086).
(PP) Seabourn Venture 2 (IMO 9862023).
(QQ) Seven Seas Mariner (IMO number 9210139).
(RR) Silver Shadow (IMO number 9192167).
(SS) Silver Wind (IMO number 8903935).
(TT) Star Breeze (IMO number 8807997).
(UU) Sylvia Earle (IMO number 9872327).
(VV) Westerdam (IMO number 9226891).
(WW) L'Austral (IMO number 9502518).
(XX) Silver Muse (IMO number 9784350).
(YY) Viking Orion (IMO number 9796250).
(b) Criteria.--A roundtrip voyage of a covered cruise ship
transporting passengers between a port or place in the State
of Alaska and a port or place in the State of Washington
shall be deemed to have made a stop in a port or place of
Canada, and deemed a foreign voyage, for purposes of the law
of the United States, if--
(1) during the voyage, the covered cruise ship sends an
email containing the information described in subsection (c)
to--
(A) the Canada Border Services Agency;
(B) the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection; and
(C) each alien crewman on such voyage who is in possession
of a valid, unexpired nonimmigrant visa issued pursuant to
subparagraph (C) or (D) of section 101(a)(15) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)); and
(2) the voyage begins not later than February 28, 2022.
(c) Email.--An email described in subsection (b)(1) shall
contain the names of each alien crewman described in
subparagraph (C) of such subsection.
(d) Employment of Alien Crewmen.--On the date on which a
covered cruise ship sends an email to the Canada Border
Services Agency in accordance with subsection (b)(1), each
alien crewman described in subparagraph (C) of such
subsection shall be deemed to have departed the United
States, entered Canada, and been readmitted to the United
States for purposes of complying with, during the applicable
voyage described in subsection (b), the 29-day authorized
stay pursuant to their nonimmigrant visas issued pursuant to
subparagraph (C) or (D) of section 101(a)(15) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)).
(e) Exception.--Notwithstanding subsection (b), a voyage
described in such subsection shall not be deemed a foreign
voyage for purposes of section 446 of the Tariff Act of 1930
(19 U.S.C. 1446) or any other provision of law relating to
levying duties or taxes on goods, including consumables,
purchased for use onboard the covered cruise ship.
(f) Applicability.--This section shall not apply to a
roundtrip voyage during any period for which the Director of
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued an
order under section 361 or 365 of the Public Health Service
Act (42 U.S.C. 264 and 268) that requires covered cruise
ships to suspend vessel operations.
(g) Duration.--The authority provided under this section
shall terminate on the earlier of--
(1) the date on which covered cruise ships are no longer
prohibited by the Government of Canada, any political
subdivision of Canada, or any port or province of Canada,
from entering, berthing, or docking in Canadian waters of the
Pacific Coast due to the COVID-19 pandemic; or
(2) March 31, 2022.
SEC. 3. MEDICAL AND SAFETY STANDARDS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 35 of title 46, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 3510. Additional medical and safety standards
``(a) Automated External Defibrillators.--Not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of this section, the
Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and
Human Services and other appropriate Federal agencies, shall
promulgate regulations to--
``(1) require that the owner of a vessel to which section
3507 applies install, and maintain in working order,
automated external defibrillators on such vessel;
``(2) require that such defibrillators be placed throughout
such vessel in clearly designated locations;
``(3) require that such defibrillators are available for
passenger and crew access in the event of an emergency; and
``(4) require that automated external defibrillators, or
adjacent equipment, allow passengers and crew to easily
contact medical staff of the vessel.
``(b) Definition of Owner.--In this section, the term
`owner' has the meaning given such term in section 3507.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 35 of
title 46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``Sec. 3510. Additional medical and safety standards.''.
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