Senate Joint Resolution Seeks to Protect Alaska’s Vital Tourist Industry – Heads to Governor for Signature

Juneau – The Alaska House of Representatives unanimously passed SJR 12 today.  Having passed both the House and Senate, the joint resolution now goes to Governor Sarah Palin for signature.

Sen. Gene Therriault, R – North Pole, introduced the 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.

“The rule change could force cruise ship operators to reduce the number of stops in Alaskan ports and the length of time they stay in port, possibly even force them to eliminate visits to some Alaskan ports altogether,” Therriault said.  “This could have a devastating impact on the economies of both coastal and inland communities who are visited each year by cruise ship passengers.”

According to the Department of Commerce, Community & Economic Development about 158 voyages to Alaska carrying roughly 349,000 passengers would be affected by the change.  That means a potential loss of about $222 million in passenger spending and $17.5 million in cruise ship passenger taxes.  Corporate and gambling taxes paid to the state would also decline.

“This resolution puts the legislature formally on record as opposing a rule change that would be detrimental to a key industry in our state,” Therriault said.  “The tourism industry provides approximately 40,000 jobs and significant revenue to many Alaskan-owned and operated businesses.  With the unanimous support of both the House and Senate, this joint resolution sends a powerful message.”

The resolution opposes the rule change and alternatively requests that Alaska be deemed exempt from the rule if it is ultimately adopted.

Rep. Bill Thomas, R – Haines, introduced and spoke in favor of SJR 12 on the House floor.

“I want to thank Rep. Thomas, for an excellent job on the floor of the House 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.

Once signed by the governor, the joint resolution will be sent to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff; Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, W. Ralph Basham; and U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens,  U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and U.S. Rep. Don Young.