Protecting Tourism in the United States Act

II Calendar No. 192 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 115 To direct the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry in the United States, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JANUARY 28, 2021 Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself, Mr. BLUNT, Ms. ROSEN, Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Mr. CRAMER, and Ms. SINEMA) intro- duced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Com- mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation DECEMBER 16, 2021 Reported by Ms. CANTWELL, with amendments [Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic] A BILL To direct the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry in the United States, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:43 Dec 17, 2021 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S115.RS S115 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 115 RS SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Tourism 2 in the United States Act’’. 3 SEC. 2. STUDY AND REPORT ON EFFECTS OF COVID–19 PAN- 4 DEMIC ON TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY 5 IN UNITED STATES. 6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 7 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in con- 8 sultation with the United States Travel and Tourism Advi- 9 sory Board and the head of any other Federal agency the 10 Secretary considers appropriate, shall complete a study on 11 the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on the travel and 12 tourism industry, including various segments of the travel 13 and tourism industry, such as domestic, international, lei- 14 sure, business, conventions, meetings, and events. 15 (b) MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION.—In conducting 16 the study required by subsection (a) and the interim study 17 required by subsection (e)(1), the Secretary shall con- 18 sider— 19 (1) changes in employment rates in the travel 20 and tourism industry during the pandemic period; 21 (2) changes in revenues of businesses in the 22 travel and tourism industry during the pandemic pe- 23 riod; 24 (3) changes in employment and sales in indus- 25 tries related to the travel and tourism industry, and 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:43 Dec 17, 2021 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S115.RS S115 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 115 RS changes in contributions of the travel and tourism 1 industry to such related industries, during the pan- 2 demic period; 3 (4) the effects attributable to the changes de- 4 scribed in paragraphs (1) through (3) in the travel 5 and tourism industry and such related industries on 6 the overall economy of the United States, and an 7 analysis of regional economies on a per capita basis 8 during the pandemic period and the projected effects 9 of such changes on the regional and overall economy 10 of the United States following the pandemic period; 11 and 12 (5) reports on the economic impact of COVID-19 13 issued by other Federal agencies to-date; and 14 (5)(6) any additional matters the Secretary con- 15 siders appropriate. 16 (c) CONSULTATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT.—In con- 17 ducting the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary 18 shall— 19 (1) consult with representatives of— 20 (A) the small business sector; 21 (B) the restaurant or food service sector; 22 (C) the hotel and alternative accommoda- 23 tions sector; 24 (D) the attractions or recreations sector; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:43 Dec 17, 2021 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S115.RS S115 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •S 115 RS (E) the travel distribution services sector; 1 (F) destination marketing organizations; 2 (G) State tourism offices; and 3 (H) the passenger air, railroad, and rental 4 car sectors; and 5 (2) provide an opportunity for public comment 6 and advice relevant to conducting the study. 7 (d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 6 8 months after the date on which the study required by sub- 9 section (a) is completed, the Secretary, in consultation 10 with the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory 11 Board and the head of any other Federal agency the Sec- 12 retary considers appropriate, shall submit to the Com- 13 mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Rep- 14 resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 15 and Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly 16 available on the website of the Department of Commerce, 17 a report that contains— 18 (1) the results of such study; and 19 (2) policy recommendations for promoting and 20 assisting the travel and tourism industry. 21 (e) INTERIM STUDY AND REPORT.—Not later than 22 3 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 23 Secretary, after consultation with relevant stakeholders, 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:43 Dec 17, 2021 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S115.RS S115 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 5 •S 115 RS including the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory 1 Board, shall— 2 (1) complete an interim study, which shall be 3 based on data available at the time when the study 4 is conducted and provide a framework for the study 5 required by subsection (a), on the effects of the 6 COVID–19 pandemic (as of such time) on the travel 7 and tourism industry, including various segments of 8 the travel and tourism industry, such as domestic, 9 international, leisure, business, conventions, meet- 10 ings, and events; and 11 (2) submit to the Committee on Energy and 12 Commerce of the House of Representatives and the 13 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- 14 tation of the Senate, and make publicly available on 15 the website of the Department of Commerce, an in- 16 terim report that contains the results of the interim 17 study required by paragraph (1). 18 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 19 (1) PANDEMIC PERIOD.—The term ‘‘pandemic 20 period’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘emergency 21 period’’ in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Secu- 22 rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B)), excluding 23 any portion of such period after the date that is 1 24 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:43 Dec 17, 2021 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S115.RS S115 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 6 •S 115 RS (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 1 the Secretary of Commerce. 2 (3) TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.—The 3 term ‘‘travel and tourism industry’’ means the travel 4 and tourism industry in the United States. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:43 Dec 17, 2021 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S115.RS S115 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:43 Dec 17, 2021 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S115.RS S115 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS Calendar No. 192 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 115 A BILL To direct the Secretary of Commerce to conduct a study and submit to Congress a report on the ef- fects of the COVID–19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry in the United States, and for other purposes. DECEMBER 16, 2021 Reported with amendments VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:43 Dec 17, 2021 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\S115.RS S115 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS