Senate Joint Resolution Seeks to Protect Alaska’s Vital Tourist Industry
Passes Senate Today

Juneau – Today SJR 12 passed the Alaska Senate unanimously.  Sen. Gene Therriault, R – North Pole, introduced this resolution to put the legislature on record as opposing a U.S. Department of Homeland Security rule change that would require all foreign-flagged cruise ships to stop at least 48 hours in foreign ports.  Under the new rule, the amount of time spent in foreign ports would have to equal more than 50 percent of the total time spent in U.S. ports of call.

Recognizing that the potential impact of such a rule change could be devastating to the economies of coastal and inland communities who are visited each year by cruise ship passengers, Senator Lesil McGuire, R – Anchorage, chair of the Senate State Affairs Committee, spoke in favor of the resolution on the floor today.

“Senator McGuire did an excellent job on the floor of the senate today describing the impact of this regulation on the many cruise ships that visit Alaska each year and the need for the federal government to reconsider this regulation,” Senator Therriault said.

Senator Therriault was unable to be on the senate floor today for the final vote.  He is traveling to Washington D.C. as he has in the past to attend the Energy Council, a meeting of representatives from all energy producing states.

The resolution now goes to the House for consideration by Alaska State Representatives.