I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7920 
To provide grants and direct funding for promotion of tourism and healthy 
and safe travel practices in areas recovering from the Coronavirus Dis-
ease 2019 (COVID–19), and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 31, 2020 
Ms. TITUS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees 
on Financial Services, and Oversight and Reform, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To provide grants and direct funding for promotion of tour-
ism and healthy and safe travel practices in areas recov-
ering from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19), 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Healthy and Safe 
Travel Promotion Act of 2020’’. 
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SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR PROMOTING TOURISM AND HEALTHY 
TRAVEL. 
Title II of the Public Works and Economic Develop-
ment Act of 1965 is amended by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘SEC. 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 re-
ceive 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 accord-
ance with this section. 
‘‘(d) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the 
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Secretary an application in such form, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may re-
quire. 
‘‘(e) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall select eligible 
entities to receive grants under this section based on fac-
tors to be determined by the Secretary, using the best 
available data, including the decline in visitation and asso-
ciated 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 mar-
keting and promotion activities necessary to assist 
with declines in visitation as a result of COVID–19; 
‘‘(2) pay costs associated with providing infor-
mation to visitors about the health and safety pro-
tections, 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 con-
vention center, large event space, or community at-
traction; or 
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‘‘(4) pay the costs of salaries and expenses as-
sociated 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 Sec-
retary administers in connection with a grant under 
this section if the Secretary determines that any 
such waivers or alternative requirements are nec-
essary 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 re-
main available until expended.’’. 
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SEC. 3. DIRECT FUNDING PROMOTING TOURISM AND 
HEALTHY TRAVEL. 
Section 601 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
801) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (d), by striking ‘‘A State, 
Tribal government, and unit of local government’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Subject to subsection (h), a State, 
Tribal government, and unit of local government’’; 
and 
(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 re-
covery of an area impacted by a decline in travel and 
tourism as a result of COVID–19; 
‘‘(2) are associated with marketing or pro-
moting travel or tourism to the recipient’s area, in-
cluding costs associated with— 
‘‘(A) educating visitors about local tourism 
opportunities and health and safety guidelines; 
‘‘(B) marketing tourism opportunities, con-
vention facilities, and group meeting space that 
are made available in accordance with applica-
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ble State, local, or Tribal government require-
ments; or 
‘‘(C) provide information to visitors or po-
tential visitors regarding the health and safety 
practices of regional businesses or attractions to 
protect public health; and 
‘‘(3) were incurred during the period that be-
gins on the date of enactment of the Healthy and 
Safe Travel Promotion Act of 2020 and ends on De-
cember 31, 2021.’’. 
SEC. 4. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 
USE OF FUNDS. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for pur-
poses of funds provided under the heading ‘‘Economic De-
velopment Administration—Economic Development As-
sistance Programs’’ under title II of division B of the 
CARES Act (Public Law 116–136), tourism and mar-
keting promotion activities (including educating visitors 
about local tourism opportunities and health and safety 
guidelines, marketing tourism opportunities, convention 
facilities, and group meeting space that are made available 
in accordance with applicable State or local government 
requirements, and providing information to visitors or po-
tential visitors regarding the health and safety practices 
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