H-1230.1  _______________________________________________

                     HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4014

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Representatives Valle, Van Luven, Sheldon, D. Schmidt, Mason, Hickel, Veloria, Hatfield, Kessler, Blanton and Radcliff

Read first time 01/31/95.  Referred to Committee on Trade & Economic Development.

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

    WHEREAS, The United States merchant marine continues to play a vital role in meeting the economic, military defense, and international aid objectives of our nation; and

    WHEREAS, The cruise ship industry has grown on average 9.3 percent annually since 1980 and is expected to double by the year 2000; and

    WHEREAS, The cruise ship trade, which now features Alaska, could grow even faster if it also featured Washington state; and

    WHEREAS, The cruise ship industry could potentially provide an additional one hundred million dollars to the Washington state economy if a United States coastwise cruise ship trade were established, with United States vessels transporting passengers between Washington state and other states, such as Alaska; and

    WHEREAS, Representatives from United States ports, labor organizations, government agencies, and the maritime industry have met to develop an agreement on the successful advancement of a United States coastwise cruise ship trade; and

    WHEREAS, The United States Passenger Vessel Development Act provides financial incentives and operating provisions to effectively establish a United States coastwise cruise ship trade;

    NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the United States Congress and President Bill Clinton establish a United States cruise ship industry as set forth in the United States Passenger Vessel Development Act, thereby developing United States cruise ship registry, United States jobs, and a United States coastwise cruise ship trade.

    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.

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