Jane Harman: “included as a provision in the Coast Guard Authorization Conference Report is the California Cruise Ship Act, which I…”

“included as a provision in the Coast Guard Authorization Conference Report is the California Cruise Ship Act, which I and other members of the California delegation re-introduced earlier this Congress to help our State's tourism industry. Currently under the Johnson Act, a cruise ship that makes an intrastate stop is subject to State law even if that ship travels in international waters and is destined for another State or foreign country. Using this loophole and its authority to regulate gambling, States like California prohibit gambling aboard these ships. The provision included in this conference report, and which passed both the House and Senate in our respective Coast Guard authorization bills, would allow gambling on internationally-bound cruises and cruises bound for another State. It does not result in the expansion of gambling on the mainland, which remains under State control. Instead, the provision simply amends the Johnson Act to allow Federal control over voyages that begin and end in the same State so long as part of the voyage is to another country or another State within 3 days of leaving State waters.”