Rule would have hurt Alaska cruise industry
WASHINGTON, D.C. - After Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) voiced his strong opposition to imposing a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) rule on Alaska, the White House decided to reject the proposal Friday.
The CPB proposed rule under the Passenger Vessel Services Act would have required any foreign-flagged cruise ships that begin and end their trips in U.S. ports to spend at least one day in foreign ports for every two days in U.S. ports.
"The change would have had a devastating effect on Alaska, impacting roughly one-third of the cruise passengers who visit Alaska," said John Binkley, President, Alaska Cruise Association. "The rule would have crippled businesses, jobs and communities in Southeast Alaska where ships that sail from Seattle or San Francisco would have had to reduce port calls to a single community," Binkley said.
"Alaska owes Senator Stevens and the entire Congressional Delegation a big thank you."
The Senator questioned Michael Chertoff, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, on this issue most recently during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing. He stressed that the rule had originally only been designed to affect Hawaii, and had no place in the rules governing Alaska's cruises.
"I made sure that the voices of Alaskans were heard, and I appreciate that the White House ultimately agreed with Alaskans," said Senator Stevens.
At that time, the Secretary assured Senator Stevens that Homeland Security would make its decision quickly and that he would personally review any rule changes.