Cruising for Alaska's Workforce Act
Bill: S.2818 | Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa (R-AK)
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
Cruising for Alaska's Workforce Act
This bill authorizes foreign vessels that carry more than 1,000 passengers (e.g., cruise ships) to transport passengers between a port in Alaska and another U.S. port, either directly or by way of a foreign port. The authorization generally expires 270 days after a notification that a U.S. vessel offers the same transport.

To permit under certain conditions the transportation of passengers 
 between the State of Alaska and other United States ports on vessels 
not qualified to engage in the coastwise trade that transport more than 
               1,000 passengers, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Cruising for Alaska's Workforce 
Act''.

SEC. 2. TRANSPORTATION OF PASSENGERS BETWEEN ALASKA AND OTHER PORTS IN 
              THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 551 of title 46, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 55124. Transportation of passengers between Alaska and other 
              ports in the United States
    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Certificate.--The term `certificate' means a 
        certificate of financial responsibility for indemnification of 
        passengers for nonperformance of transportation issued by the 
        Federal Maritime Commission under section 44102 of this title.
            ``(2) Passenger vessel.--The term `passenger vessel' means 
        a vessel transporting more than 1,000 passengers that is of 
        similar size, or offering similar service, as any other vessel 
        transporting passengers under subsection (b).
    ``(b) Exemption.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, a 
vessel transporting more than 1,000 passengers that is not qualified to 
engage in the coastwise trade may transport passengers between a port 
in the State of Alaska and another port in the United States, directly 
or by way of a foreign port.
    ``(c) Expiration of Exemption.--
            ``(1) When coastwise-qualified vessel offering service.--On 
        a showing to the Secretary of the department in which the Coast 
        Guard is operating, by the vessel owner or charterer, that a 
        United States passenger vessel qualified to engage in the 
        coastwise trade is offering or advertising passenger service 
        between a port in the State of Alaska and another port in the 
        United States, directly or by way of a foreign port, pursuant 
        to a certificate, the Secretary shall notify the owner or 
        operator of each vessel transporting passengers under 
        subsection (b) to terminate that transportation within 270 days 
        after the Secretary's notification. Except as provided in 
        subsection (d), the authority to transport passengers under 
        subsection (b) and the applicability of subsection (f) shall 
        expire at the end of that 270-day period.
            ``(2) When non-coastwise qualified vessel offering 
        service.--On a showing to the Secretary, by the vessel owner or 
        charterer, that a United States passenger vessel not qualified 
        to engage in the coastwise trade is offering or advertising 
        passenger service between a port in the State of Alaska and 
        another port in the United States, directly or by way of a 
        foreign port, pursuant to a certificate, the Secretary shall 
        notify the owner or operator of each foreign vessel 
        transporting passengers under subsection (b) to terminate that 
        transportation within 270 days after the Secretary's 
        notification. Except as provided in subsection (d), the 
        authority of a foreign vessel to transport passengers under 
        subsection (b) and the applicability of subsection (f) shall 
        expire at the end of that 270-day period.
    ``(d) Delaying Expiration.--If the vessel offering or advertising 
the service described in subsection (c) has not begun that service 
within 270 days after the Secretary's notification, the expiration 
provided by subsection (c) is delayed until 90 days after the vessel 
offering or advertising the service begins that service.
    ``(e) Reinstatement of Exemption.--If the Secretary finds that the 
service on which an expiration was based is no longer available, the 
expired authority to transport passengers and the applicability of 
subsection (f) shall be reinstated.
    ``(f) Employment of Alien Crewmen.--Alien crewmen on a vessel 
transporting more than 1,000 passengers under the authority of 
subsection (b) shall be deemed to have complied with, during the voyage 
of such vessel, 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)(15)).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 551 of title 
46, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

``55124. Transportation of passengers between Alaska and other ports in 
                            the United States.''.
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