CRUISE Act

To provide COVID–19 mitigation instructions for cruise ships, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Careful Resumption Under Improved Safety Enhancements Act CRUISE Act 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) On March 14, 2020, in response to the COVID–19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued the No Sail Order and Suspension of Further Embarkation (2) Prior to the COVID–19 pandemic, the cruise industry supported nearly 450,000 American jobs and contributed over $55,500,000,000 to the United States economy annually. More than 300,000 jobs have been lost in the United States due to the suspension of cruises. The majority of the individuals impacted are independent business owners or individuals employed by small- to medium-sized businesses, including travel agents, taxi drivers, port employees, baggage handlers, and longshore workers, as well as airline, hotel, and restaurant employees. (3) On October 30, 2020, the CDC issued the Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (4) The cruise industry is the only segment of the United States economy that is completely prohibited from operations by the CDC due to COVID–19. For every other sector of the economy, CDC provides recommendations for how to mitigate the spread of COVID–19 without issuing orders to prohibit operations. (5) Since July 2020, cruising has continued in Asia, Europe, and the South Pacific with nearly 400,000 passengers sailing with health protocols to mitigate the spread of COVID–19. (6) The increasing availability of vaccines provides a path to the resumption of pre-pandemic activities. On March 2, 2021, President Biden stated: We’re now on track to have enough vaccine supply for every adult in America by the end of May. … The more people who get vaccinated, the faster we’re going to overcome this virus and get back to our loved ones, get our economy back on track, and start to move back to normal. (7) As of March 11, 2021, 65 percent of people over the age of 65 and more than 70 percent of people over the age of 75 in the United States were fully vaccinated against COVID–19, leading President Biden to state: All adult Americans will be eligible to get a vaccine no later than May 1. … After this long, hard year, that will make this Independence Day something truly special, where we not only mark our independence as a nation but we begin to mark our independence from this virus. 3. COVID–19 mitigation guidance for cruise ships (a) In general Not later than the earlier of 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act or June 1, 2021, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the Secretary Director (b) Applicability The recommendations issued under subsection (a) shall be applicable to all cruise ships subject to the order entitled No Sail Order and Suspension of Further Embarkation (c) Working group (1) Establishment There is hereby established an interagency working group, for purposes of developing, not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the recommendations described in subsection (a), in order to facilitate the resumption of passenger cruise ship operations in the United States not later than July 4, 2021. (2) Members The interagency working group shall consist of— (A) the Secretary (or designee) serving as Chair; (B) the Secretaries (or designees) of Transportation, of Homeland Security, and of Commerce; and (C) industry stakeholders appointed by the Secretary. (3) Scope of recommendations In developing the recommendations described in subsection (a), the interagency working group shall consider public health safety needs; risk mitigation strategies and health protocols for passengers and crew that are consistent with, and not substantially more burdensome than, the guidance applied by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to other business sectors and travel-related industries; and overall economic impacts, costs, and benefits of the recommendations. 4. Resumption of cruise ship operations Not later than July 4, 2021, the Secretary shall revoke the order entitled Framework for Conditional Sailing and Initial Phase COVID–19 Testing Requirements for Protection of Crew 42 U.S.C. 264 5. Rules of construction Nothing in this Act shall limit the authority of the Secretary to make and enforce such regulations that, in the judgment of the Secretary, are necessary to prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases on any individual cruise ship presenting a public health threat by reason of the existence of any communicable disease.

Summary: Careful Resumption Under Improved Safety Enhancements Act or the CRUISE Act This bill requires various activities to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the operation of cruise ships. Specifically, the bill establishes a working group comprised of specified federal departments and industry stakeholders to develop recommendations for resuming cruise ship operations. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must issue (within 30 days) separate recommendations on mitigating the introduction, transmission, and spread of COVID-19 onboard cruise ships and to communities onshore. The CDC must consult with the working group on these recommendations. Furthermore, the Department of Health and Human Services must revoke by July 4, 2021, its order issued on November 4, 2020, which restricts the operation of cruise ships in U.S. waters.