[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 88 (Thursday, May 20, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2632-H2633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ALASKA TOURISM RECOVERY ACT

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure be discharged from further 
consideration of the bill (H.R. 1318) 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, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oregon?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1318

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Alaska Tourism Recovery 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. VOYAGE DEEMED TO BE FOREIGN.

       (a) Criteria.--A roundtrip voyage transporting passengers 
     between a port or place in the State of Alaska and a port or 
     place in the State of Washington is deemed a foreign voyage 
     for purposes of U.S. law, if the voyage--
       (1) is made by a passenger vessel to which sections 3507 
     and 3508 of title 46, United States Code, apply; and
       (2) which occurs during the period described in subsection 
     (b).
       (b) Duration of Applicability.--A voyage deemed to be a 
     foreign voyage under subsection (a) is a voyage which begins 
     not later than any date prior to February 28, 2022, on which 
     the Government of Canada or its political subdivisions, or 
     any port or province in Canada, prohibits a passenger vessel 
     to which sections 3507 and 3508 of title 46, United States 
     Code, apply from entering, berthing, or docking in Canadian 
     waters of the Pacific Coast due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

                    Amendment Offered by Mr. DeFazio

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

        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

[[Page H2633]]

     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.''.

  Mr. DeFAZIO (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent to dispense with the reading.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oregon?
  There was no objection.
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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