Dear Alaskans,
I wanted to take a moment to update you on the 2021 Alaska Cruise Season, and my bill, the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act.
H.R. 1318 – the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act – which waives the Passenger Vessel Services Act's (PVSA) foreign stop requirement to allow cruises to resume to Alaska has PASSED BOTH CHAMBERS and is now headed to President Biden's desk for his signature.
This is truly great news for our state and communities across Alaska, but particularly in Southeast!
When Canada closed their ports and refused to work with us, families and small businesses in Southeast Alaska were devastated. If ships couldn't stop in Canada to satisfy the PVSA, they couldn't sail to Alaska. Our tourism economy depends on the summer cruise season. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused undue stress for the Alaskan small businesses that rely on being able to welcome visitors from around the world. Families in Southeast have been kept awake at night from stress driven by uncertainty surrounding the upcoming season.
For video of Congressman Young's Floor Speech following passage of the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act, click here or on the image above.
Passage of the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act brings urgently needed good news to our mom and pop small businesses. This bill solves one-half of the puzzle for the resumption of the 2021 Alaska cruise season, and now it is the CDC's turn to act decisively and promulgate the guidance the industry needs to set sail for Alaska. Even before we had effective vaccines, the CDC allowed airlines, trains, and other hospitality providers to operate unencumbered. On the other hand, cruise lines were singled out and held to a much more prohibitive standard that would have put the final nail in the coffin of the 2021 season. However, in recent weeks, I have worked with the Administration, and I want to thank them for seeing the bigger picture and honoring their commitment to collaborate with the industry to find a path forward.
This bill comes at a critical time. Infections are down, mask mandates are being relaxed, and over 60% of the adult population has received at least one dose of the vaccine. We are turning a corner, and it is time to let our tourism sector get back to normal. This bill speaks to the dogged determination of the Alaska Delegation, and I am very grateful for the help of Senator Lisa Murkowski and Senator Dan Sullivan.
For Congressman Young's special message about the 2021 cruise season, click here or on the image above.
Following Senate passage of the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act last week, John Horgan, Premier of British Columbia, described our effort as a 'blip' that would not go any further than the Senate. Now that the bill is headed to the President's desk and cruises will bypass Canada entirely, I am sure that Premier Horgan will never again underestimate the 'small but mighty' Alaska Congressional Delegation.
We now have a path forward for a 2021 cruise season, and I am confident that Alaskans will all do their part to ensure a safe and prosperous tour season. To those who will be visiting our state this summer, I say "welcome to Alaska; we are open for business!”
Sincerely.
Don Young
Congressman for All Alaska
Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives
