This bill removes several U.S. statutory restrictions that currently apply to passenger ships traveling between domestic ports. It repeals section 55103 of title 46 (the passenger-vessel domestic requirement) and makes related changes to chapter 121 (Jones Act) and other sections of title 46. The amendments say that certain coastwise and citizenship or Navy reserve requirements will not apply to a vessel that transports passengers between ports or places in the United States, whether the voyage is direct or goes via a foreign port. The bill also makes conforming edits to other sections and repeals a related section (55104). A rule of construction in the bill says the changes do not exempt vessels from any other applicable U.S. laws except where the bill explicitly says so.
If this bill becomes law, some ownership, construction, or crewing requirements that currently apply to passenger vessels operating between domestic ports would no longer apply to those vessels as described in the bill. The text specifically covers vessels that transport passengers between U.S. ports directly or via a foreign port. The bill itself does not describe other regulatory or operational details.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information in the bill text about proponents' stated reasons or claimed benefits.
No publicly available information in the bill text about opponents' stated concerns or objections.