Juneau Chamber bemoans potential loss of cruise ship season on Action Line

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Monday, February 22nd, 2021 12:59pm

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Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Juneau Chamber of Commerce is doing all it can to save the endangered cruise ship season.

Chamber officials were guests on Action Line Monday including Executive Director Craig Dahl.  "We're trying to stay in touch with all of the different organizations that are working on this and I think it's safe to say that anyone involved in the industry, whether you're on the business side or on the cruise side itself, is doing everything they can to move the ball forward on this.   I think it's a little bit frustrating actually at this point.  We're watching a lot of communication and waiting to see some kind of movement on the congressional side."

And the chamber is frustrated with inaction on the stateside especially after Juneau Senator Jesse Kiehl more than a week ago introduced a joint resolution that urges the President of the United States and Congress to act as quickly as possible to make exemptions to the Jones Act.  they bemoan the fact that the resolution and a House companion measure are still languishing.

Chamber President Eric Forst said there needs to be more urgency to address the situation.  He said time is of the essence and added that it's going to have to happen within the next couple of weeks or it will be too late.

The chamber has sent a letter to the Assembly voicing concern about the CBJ disaster declaration remaining in place while the state's declaration expired.

CBJ is waiting for the Legislature to take action on the matter first, but Dahl said the version in the House is stuck.  They feel it puts Juneau at a disadvantage for upcoming independent travelers.  They believe Juneau is the only community in Alaska that has instituted its own version of those rules.

Another letter to the Assembly from the Chamber asks to look at every possible means to assist businesses who face the loss of the cruise ship season.

 

 

 

 

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