HJR 13 Summary

• Urges United States Congress to exempt cruise ships from the Passenger Vessel Services Act and other federal laws that require stops at Canadian or foreign ports while Canadian ports remain closed to ships carrying more than 100 people.

• Requests that the President of the United States refrain from fining or enforcing penalties against cruise ships sailing to Alaska if Congress does not grant the exemption.

• Notes that cruise ships brought approximately 1,331,600 visitors to Alaska in 2019, accounting for 90 percent of Southeast Alaska visitors and generating over $214 million in state and municipal revenue annually.

• Cites that COVID-19 pandemic impacts increased statewide unemployment from 6.2 percent to 11.0 percent and Southeast Alaska unemployment from 4.7 percent to 11.3 percent, representing a 17 percent loss of regional jobs.

• References Canada's February 3, 2021 ban on cruise ships carrying more than 100 people from sailing through Canadian waters, extended until February 2022, which prevents cruise operations under current federal law.