The Safeguarding American Tourism Act would create a new exemption in federal maritime law for large cruise ships with 800 or more passenger berths. Specifically, it would make those vessels exempt from certain requirements under the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA), the Jones Act-related coastwise trade rules, and related citizenship/Navy reserve crew requirements when they transport passengers between U.S. ports, including routes that involve a foreign port. The bill is framed as a targeted adjustment for large passenger vessels rather than a broad rewrite of coastwise shipping law.
The bill also amends immigration law governing alien crewmen. It would give immigration officers authority to permit certain crew members to land temporarily in the United States for the duration of a valid visa, and it revises the statutory language governing when crewmen may land on the vessel or aircraft they arrived on, or on another vessel or aircraft. A rule of construction clarifies that the bill should not be read to exempt vessels from any other federal law beyond the specific changes made in the bill.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would narrow the reach of several long-standing maritime restrictions by carving out a large-cruise-ship exception from coastwise trade and vessel citizenship requirements in title 46 of the U.S. Code. That would affect how cruise lines can operate itineraries between U.S. ports and could reduce compliance burdens for qualifying vessels. It would also modify section 252 of the Immigration and Nationality Act by changing the standards for temporary landing permits for alien crewmen, affecting immigration processing for maritime crews.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be presented in a supportive, pro-tourism frame, with its title and structure emphasizing relief for cruise operations and American tourism. There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, so no formal opposition or bipartisan support can be assessed from transcripts or roll calls. The overall tone of the legislation is deregulatory and industry-friendly.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely to be the bill’s carve-out from the PVSA, Jones Act, and related citizenship requirements, because those laws are longstanding protections for U.S. maritime commerce and U.S.-flag vessel operations. Critics could view the exemption as weakening domestic shipping policy or creating a special benefit for large cruise operators, while supporters would likely argue it promotes tourism and reflects the operational realities of modern cruise ships. The immigration-related changes for alien crewmen may also draw scrutiny, though the bill text does not include any recorded debate on that issue.