H-3134.1  _______________________________________________

                     HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4026

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      53rd Legislature     1994 Regular Session

By Representatives Shin, Wineberry, Valle, Linville, Hansen, Quall, Basich, Grant, Forner, Patterson, Johanson, Sheldon, Leonard, Schoesler, Campbell, Lisk, Chandler, Foreman, Kremen, Springer and J. Kohl

Read first time 01/12/94.  Referred to Committee on Trade, Economic Development & Housing.

Requesting that federal law be amended to allow foreign-flagged cruise ships between U.S. ports.

    TO THE HONORABLE BILL CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

    We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

    WHEREAS, The state of Washington provides a key link between the United States and the Asian-Pacific region; and

    WHEREAS, Washington's economy depends heavily on international trade and tourism; and

    WHEREAS, The cruise ship trade, which now features Alaska, could grow even faster if it also featured Washington state and utilized the ties between Washington state and the Asian-Pacific region; and

    WHEREAS, An 1886 federal law (46 U.S.C. 289) prohibits foreign-flagged vessels from carrying passengers between United States ports; and

    WHEREAS, The cruise ship industry potentially could provide an additional $100 million to the Washington state economy if foreign-flagged cruise ships could travel between Washington state and other states, such as Alaska; and

    WHEREAS, The purpose of the restrictions on foreign-flagged vessels, to protect shipbuilding jobs in the United States and market share for United States vessels, can be accomplished while accommodating expanded cruise ship activity;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Congress and President Bill Clinton amend Title 46, United States Code (289), to allow foreign-flagged cruise ships to carry passengers between United States destinations while also protecting and promoting United States jobs.

    BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Bill Clinton, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

                            --- END ---