Legislature(2021 - 2022)BARNES 124
03/20/2021 12:30 PM House TRANSPORTATION
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Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
HJR13 | |
Presentation: Alaska Marine Highway System | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ | HJR 13 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED |
HJR 13-URGE EXEMPTION FOR CRUISE SHIPS 12:35:08 PM CHAIR HOPKINS announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 13, "Urging the United States Congress to exempt cruise ships from certain provisions of the Passenger Vessel Services Act and other applicable provisions of federal law for the period during which Canadian ports are closed to cruise ships carrying more than 100 people; and urging the President of the United States not to fine or take actions against cruise ships sailing to the state." 12:36:11 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAN ORTIZ shared on February 4, 2021 Canada's transport ministry announced it would prohibit large passenger vessels from transiting their waters until 2022. Under the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA), large foreign vessels are required to stop in a large foreign port such as Canada at least once during their voyage. The announcement from Canada coupled with the PVSA requirement would prevent Alaska from receiving cruise ships throughout the entire 2021 season. This follows the 2020 season in which Alaska also saw no large cruise ship activity, he pointed out. The Alaska Visitors Industry, particularly cruise tourism, is the cornerstone of Southeast Alaska's economy, he stated. Prior to the pandemic, in 2019, Alaska had more than 2.2m visitors, over half of whom arrived via cruise ship. While many businesses were able to "hibernate" for 2020, the threat of such limited visitors in 2021 could do irreparable harm, he stated. The Congressional delegation has been hard at work to try to find a way to save the 2021 cruise ship season, he shared. He added Representative Don Young has brought forth the Alaska Tourism Recovery Act, which proposes a temporary workaround which would make round-trip voyages between Alaska and Washington a foreign voyage under US law. If passed, Representative Ortiz continued, HJR 13 would signal the support of the Alaska State Legislature and would urge Congress and President Joe Biden to take necessary actions to allow for cruise ships to visit Alaska ports. 12:39:17 PM REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked if HJR 13 had an end date. REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ replied yes, and it coincided with the duration of Canada's cruise prohibition. REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE asked if there would be opportunity to extend should Canada become less cooperative with their date. REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ replied he was not sure if it allowed for flexibility; in the event of continued prohibition there may need to be another resolution. REPRESENTATIVE MCCABE said he supports HJR 13 in general, but is skeptical of allowing foreign vessels, which have less strict rules, point-to-point in the US. He expressed his hopes HJR 13 wouldn't undo 100 years of maritime law. 12:41:43 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN expressed appreciation for Representative McCabe's point and said it would not be the intent of HJR 13 to undo any work done by the Passenger Vessel Services Act or the Jones Act, which would have a ripple effect across the entire US economy. It was a resolution and therefore a more temporary solution, she pointed out. She mentioned it should be made clear HJR 13 was not to be extended in perpetuity and acknowledged US standards of health care on board the cruise ship vessels to make sure they are meeting health and safety standards. REPRESENTATIVE ORTIZ answered as a resolution, HJR 13 had no authority to undo anything, and its extension would be a Congressional decision. 12:44:44 PM REPRESENTATIVE CRONK expressed support for HJR 13 especially for Interior Alaska. CHAIR HOPKINS agreed. 12:45:39 PM PATTI MACKEY, shared Alaska has withstood more negative effects from COVID-19 than any other state in the US. Focusing on Ketchikan, Alaska, Ms. Mackey shared tourism brought in about $263m annually, and 96% of visitors came to Alaska via cruise ship. The loss of passenger and crew member spending, along with port fees and ancillary services purchased by the various cruise lines, took a devastating toll on the community in 2020 and created a huge loss in municipal revenues. Tourism jobs in Ketchikan numbered around 1350, she shared, with another 400 indirectly, resulting in about $76m in labor income; and while the aid has been helpful in some instances, businesses wanted to get back to doing what they did best, she imparted. A temporary waiver or other workaround to resolve the restrictions on foreign-flagged ships is more than a cruise industry issue, she said, and is not the only answer to the challenges, but would have a direct [positive] impact on Alaskan families, she said. 12:47:56 PM CHAIR HOPKINS opened public testimony on HJR 13. 12:48:12 PM KATI CAPOZZI, President and CEO, Alaska Chamber of Commerce, testified in support of HJR 13. She shared the Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1953 and its mission is to advocate for a healthy business environment in Alaska. She shared the tourism industry needed immediate Congressional action to allow cruise ships to return to Alaska. 12:49:55 PM SHANNON ADAMSON, Masters, Mates, and Pilots Union, put forth the state of Alaska owned vessels that met all Jones Act and PVSA requirements: the AMHS vessels currently tied up in Ketchikan could boost tourism and help communities. Putting the Colombia into service, she gave as an example, which could spend half days in Skagway, Ketchikan, and Juneau, just to name a few, could be offered as the way to see Juneau by way of one's own vehicle, she added. Mitigation measures were already in place on AMHS vessels, and it would be a way to boost tourism without affecting AMHS or DOT&PF budgets, she pointed out. 12:52:05 PM CHAIR HOPKINS closed public testimony on HJR 13.
Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
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HJR 13 - Letter of Support Southeast Conference 3.20.2021.pdf |
HTRA 3/20/2021 12:30:00 PM |
HJR 13 |
HJR 13 Sponsor Statement 03.20.2021.pdf |
HTRA 3/20/2021 12:30:00 PM |
HJR 13 |
HJR 13 - Letter of Support Alaska Policy Forum 3.20.2021.pdf |
HTRA 3/20/2021 12:30:00 PM |
HJR 13 |
HJR 13 - Letter of Support Southeast Conference 3.20.2021.pdf |
HTRA 3/20/2021 12:30:00 PM |
HJR 13 |
HJR 13 Letter of Support Kodiak Chamber 3.20.2021.pdf |
HTRA 3/20/2021 12:30:00 PM |
HJR 13 |
HJR 13 Letter of Support ATIA 3.20.2021.pdf |
HTRA 3/20/2021 12:30:00 PM |
HJR 13 |
HJR13 AML Letter of Support 3.20.2021.pdf |
HTRA 3/20/2021 12:30:00 PM |
HJR 13 |
2021-03-24 - DOTPF Follow Up from 3-20-2021 meeting re AMHS.pdf |
HTRA 3/20/2021 12:30:00 PM |
AMHS Presentation Q&A Response |