Biden signs bill to help Alaska cruise industry

President Biden invited a trio of Republican lawmakers to the White House on Monday to sign into law a bill aimed at reviving the cruise ship industry in Alaska, which had been hit hard during the coronavirus pandemic.

On Monday afternoon, Biden signed into law the Alaska Tourism Restoration Act, which temporarily allows cruise ships to sail directly from Washington state to Alaska without having to stop in Canada, which currently has in place restrictions on cruise ships docking in its ports due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Passenger Vessel Services Act requires that foreign-flag ships stop at foreign ports. The new law waives that restriction until Canada lifts its coronavirus-related ban on cruise ships.

Biden signed the bill at a private ceremony with Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young, all of whom are Alaska Republicans. Murkowski and Young were the lead sponsors of the bills in the Senate and House, respectively.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/biden-signs-bill-to-help-alaska-cruise-industry/ar-AAKkWwx?li=BBnb7Kz