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. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Tourism 

5 in the United States Act’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. STUDY AND REPORT ON EFFECTS OF COVID–19 PAN2 DEMIC ON TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY 

3 IN UNITED STATES. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 

5 date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in con6 sultation with the United States Travel and Tourism Advi7 sory Board and the head of any other Federal agency the 

8 Secretary considers appropriate, shall complete a study on 

9 the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic on the travel and 

10 tourism industry, including various segments of the travel 

11 and tourism industry, such as domestic, international, lei12 sure, business, conventions, meetings, and events. 

13 (b) MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION.—In conducting 

14 the study required by subsection (a) and the interim study 

15 required by subsection (e)(1), the Secretary shall con16 sider— 

17 (1) changes in employment rates in the travel 

18 and tourism industry during the pandemic period; 

19 (2) changes in revenues of businesses in the 

20 travel and tourism industry during the pandemic pe21 riod; 

22 (3) changes in employment and sales in indus23 tries related to the travel and tourism industry, and 

24 changes in contributions of the travel and tourism 

25 industry to such related industries, during the pan26 demic period; 


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1 (4) the effects attributable to the changes de2 scribed in paragraphs (1) through (3) in the travel 

3 and tourism industry and such related industries on 

4 the overall economy of the United States during the 

5 pandemic period and the projected effects of such 

6 changes on the overall economy of the United States 

7 following the pandemic period; and 

8 (5) any additional matters the Secretary con9 siders appropriate. 

10 (c) CONSULTATION AND PUBLIC COMMENT.—In con11 ducting the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary 

12 shall— 

13 (1) consult with representatives of— 

14 (A) the small business sector; 

15 (B) the restaurant or food service sector; 

16 (C) the hotel and alternative accommoda17 tions sector; 

18 (D) the attractions or recreations sector; 

19 (E) the travel distribution services sector; 

20 (F) destination marketing organizations; 

21 (G) State tourism offices; and 

22 (H) the passenger air, railroad, and rental 

23 car sectors; and 

24 (2) provide an opportunity for public comment 

25 and advice relevant to conducting the study. 


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1 (d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 6 

2 months after the date on which the study required by sub3 section (a) is completed, the Secretary, in consultation 

4 with the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory 

5 Board and the head of any other Federal agency the Sec6 retary considers appropriate, shall submit to the Com7 mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Rep8 resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

9 and Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly 

10 available on the website of the Department of Commerce, 

11 a report that contains— 

12 (1) the results of such study; and 

13 (2) policy recommendations for promoting and 

14 assisting the travel and tourism industry. 

15 (e) INTERIM STUDY AND REPORT.—Not later than 

16 3 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

17 Secretary, after consultation with relevant stakeholders, 

18 including the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory 

19 Board, shall— 

20 (1) complete an interim study, which shall be 

21 based on data available at the time when the study 

22 is conducted and provide a framework for the study 

23 required by subsection (a), on the effects of the 

24 COVID–19 pandemic (as of such time) on the travel 

25 and tourism industry, including various segments of 


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1 the travel and tourism industry, such as domestic, 

2 international, leisure, business, conventions, meet3 ings, and events; and 

4 (2) submit to the Committee on Energy and 

5 Commerce of the House of Representatives and the 

6 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor7 tation of the Senate, and make publicly available on 

8 the website of the Department of Commerce, an in9 terim report that contains the results of the interim 

10 study required by paragraph (1). 

11 (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

12 (1) PANDEMIC PERIOD.—The term ‘‘pandemic 

13 period’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘emergency 

14 period’’ in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Secu15 rity Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g)(1)(B)), excluding 

16 any portion of such period after the date that is 1 

17 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

18 (2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

19 the Secretary of Commerce. 

20 (3) TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY.—The 

21 term ‘‘travel and tourism industry’’ means the travel 

22 and tourism industry in the United States. 

Æ 


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