Healthy and Safe Travel Promotion Act of 2020

To provide grants and direct funding for promotion of tourism and healthy and safe travel practices in areas recovering from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19), and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Healthy and Safe Travel Promotion Act of 2020 2. Grants for promoting tourism and healthy travel Title II of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 is amended by adding at the end the following: 219. Tourism and healthy travel promotion (a) In general The Secretary shall provide grants to eligible entities to assist with economic recovery in communities affected by declines in travel and tourism as a result of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19). (b) Eligible entities An entity eligible to receive grants under this section shall be an entity that is responsible for marketing, selling, or promoting visitation to a community, region, or State, including— (1) a State tourism office; (2) a political subdivision or instrumentality of a State or local government; (3) a Tribal government; and (4) a nonprofit organization. (c) Establishment Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a process under which the Secretary may receive applications and make grants to eligible entities in accordance with this section. (d) Application To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (e) Selection The Secretary shall select eligible entities to receive grants under this section based on factors to be determined by the Secretary, using the best available data, including the decline in visitation and associated economic losses in a region as a result of COVID–19, and the amount of real or forecast revenue lost by an eligible entity as a result of COVID–19. (f) Use of funds An eligible entity shall use grant funds provided under this section to— (1) pay costs associated with tourism marketing and promotion activities necessary to assist with declines in visitation as a result of COVID–19; (2) pay costs associated with providing information to visitors about the health and safety protections, guidance or requirements of Federal, State or local governments and businesses to reduce the spread of COVID–19; (3) pay the increased costs of sanitation or cleaning to provide for a safer environment at a convention center, large event space, or community attraction; or (4) pay the costs of salaries and expenses associated with the operations of the eligible entity with respect to activities described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C). (g) Waiver (1) Long-term planning Sections 209(b)(2) and 204 shall not apply for purposes of providing grants under this section. (2) Waiver authority The Secretary may waive, or specify alternative requirements for, any provision of any statute or regulation that the Secretary administers in connection with a grant under this section if the Secretary determines that any such waivers or alternative requirements are necessary to expedite or facilitate the use of the amounts made available under this section. (h) Federal share Notwithstanding section 204, the Federal share of the cost of an activity carried out with a grant under this section shall be 100 percent. (i) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2021 to carry out this section $5,000,000,000, to remain available until expended. . 3. Direct funding promoting tourism and healthy travel Section 601 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 801 (1) in subsection (d), by striking A State, Tribal government, and unit of local government Subject to subsection (h), a State, Tribal government, and unit of local government (2) by adding at the end the following: (h) Eligibility A State, Tribal government, and unit of local government may use funds provided under a payment made under this section to cover expenditures of the recipient that— (1) are made to assist with the economic recovery of an area impacted by a decline in travel and tourism as a result of COVID–19; (2) are associated with marketing or promoting travel or tourism to the recipient’s area, including costs associated with— (A) educating visitors about local tourism opportunities and health and safety guidelines; (B) marketing tourism opportunities, convention facilities, and group meeting space that are made available in accordance with applicable State, local, or Tribal government requirements; or (C) provide information to visitors or potential visitors regarding the health and safety practices of regional businesses or attractions to protect public health; and (3) were incurred during the period that begins on the date of enactment of the Healthy and Safe Travel Promotion Act of 2020 . 4. Economic development assistance programs use of funds Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of funds provided under the heading Economic Development Administration—Economic Development Assistance Programs Public Law 116–136

Summary: Healthy and Safe Travel Promotion Act of 2020 This bill establishes grants and authorizes the use of certain funds to assist with economic recovery efforts in communities affected by declines in travel and tourism as a result of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Commerce to provide grants to entities such as nonprofit organizations and state tourism offices that are responsible for marketing, selling, or promoting tourism to a community, region, or state. Such entities shall use grant funds to pay costs associated with (1) tourism marketing and promotion, (2) providing information to visitors about health and safety protections, (3) sanitation or cleaning, and (4) salaries and expenses related to such activities. Further, the bill authorizes a recipient of amounts from the coronavirus relief fund to use such amounts to cover certain expenditures that (1) are made to assist with the economic recovery of an area impacted by a decline in travel and tourism as a result of COVID-19, and (2) are associated with marketing or promoting travel or tourism to the recipient's area. The bill also specifies that tourism and marketing promotion activities shall be considered an eligible use of certain economic development assistance funds provided in response to COVID-19.