Protecting Tourism in the United States Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8122 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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AUGUST 28, 2020 Ms. CASTOR of Florida (for herself and Mr. UPTON) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 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 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Tourism 4 in the United States Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:19 Sep 04, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8122.IH H8122 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8122 IH SEC. 2. STUDY AND REPORT ON EFFECTS OF COVID–19 PAN- 1 DEMIC ON TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY 2 IN UNITED STATES. 3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 4 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in con- 5 sultation with the United States Travel and Tourism Advi- 6 sory Board and the head of any other Federal agency the 7 Secretary considers appropriate, shall complete a study on 8 the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on the travel and 9 tourism industry, including various segments of the travel 10 and tourism industry, such as domestic, international, lei- 11 sure, business, conventions, meetings, and events. 12 (b) MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION.—In conducting 13 the study required by subsection (a) and the interim study 14 required by subsection (e)(1), the Secretary shall con- 15 sider— 16 (1) changes in employment rates in the travel 17 and tourism industry during the pandemic period; 18 (2) changes in revenues of businesses in the 19 travel and tourism industry during the pandemic pe- 20 riod; 21 (3) changes in employment and sales in indus- 22 tries related to the travel and tourism industry, and 23 changes in contributions of the travel and tourism 24 industry to such related industries, during the pan- 25 demic period; 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:19 Sep 04, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8122.IH H8122 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8122 IH (4) the effects attributable to the changes de- 1 scribed in paragraphs (1) through (3) in the travel 2 and tourism industry and such related industries on 3 the overall economy of the United States during the 4 pandemic period and the projected effects of such 5 changes on the overall economy of the United States 6 following the pandemic period; and 7 (5) any additional matters the Secretary con- 8 siders appropriate. 9 (c) CONSULTATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT.—In con- 10 ducting the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary 11 shall— 12 (1) consult with representatives of— 13 (A) the small business sector; 14 (B) the restaurant or food service sector; 15 (C) the hotel and alternative accommoda- 16 tions sector; 17 (D) the attractions or recreations sector; 18 (E) the travel distribution services sector; 19 (F) destination marketing organizations; 20 (G) State tourism offices; and 21 (H) the passenger air, railroad, and rental 22 car sectors; and 23 (2) provide an opportunity for public comment 24 and advice relevant to conducting the study. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:19 Sep 04, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8122.IH H8122 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 8122 IH (d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 6 1 months after the date on which the study required by sub- 2 section (a) is completed, the Secretary, in consultation 3 with the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory 4 Board and the head of any other Federal agency the Sec- 5 retary considers appropriate, shall submit to the Com- 6 mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Rep- 7 resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 8 and Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly 9 available on the website of the Department of Commerce, 10 a report that contains— 11 (1) the results of such study; and 12 (2) policy recommendations for promoting and 13 assisting the travel and tourism industry. 14 (e) INTERIM STUDY AND REPORT.—Not later than 15 3 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 16 Secretary, after consultation with relevant stakeholders, 17 including the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory 18 Board, shall— 19 (1) complete an interim study, which shall be 20 based on data available at the time when the study 21 is conducted and provide a framework for the study 22 required by subsection (a), on the effects of the 23 COVID–19 pandemic (as of such time) on the travel 24 and tourism industry, including various segments of 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:19 Sep 04, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8122.IH H8122 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 8122 IH the travel and tourism industry, such as domestic, 1 international, leisure, business, conventions, meet- 2 ings, and events; and 3 (2) submit to the Committee on Energy and 4 Commerce of the House of Representatives and the 5 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- 6 tation of the Senate, and make publicly available on 7 the website of the Department of Commerce, an in- 8 terim report that contains the results of the interim 9 study required by paragraph (1). 10 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 11 (1) PANDEMIC PERIOD.—The term ‘‘pandemic 12 period’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘emergency 13 period’’ in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Secu- 14 rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B)), excluding 15 any portion of such period after the date that is 1 16 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 17 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 18 the Secretary of Commerce. 19 (3) TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.—The 20 term ‘‘travel and tourism industry’’ means the travel 21 and tourism industry in the United States. 22 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:19 Sep 04, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8122.IH H8122 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS