[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 195 (Tuesday, November 17, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5833-H5835]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            PANDEMIC EFFECTS ON HOME SAFETY AND TOURISM ACT

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 8121) to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to 
study the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on injuries and deaths 
associated with consumer products, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 8121

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Pandemic 
     Effects on Home Safety and Tourism Act''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

                     TITLE I--COVID-19 HOME SAFETY

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Study and report on the effect of the COVID-19 public health 
              emergency on injuries and deaths from consumer products.

           TITLE II--PROTECTING TOURISM IN THE UNITED STATES

Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Study and report on effects of COVID-19 pandemic on travel 
              and tourism industry in United States.

                     TITLE I--COVID-19 HOME SAFETY

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``COVID-19 Home Safety 
     Act''.

     SEC. 102. STUDY AND REPORT ON THE EFFECT OF THE COVID-19 
                   PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ON INJURIES AND DEATHS 
                   FROM CONSUMER PRODUCTS.

       (a) COVID-19 Report Required.--Not later than 3 months 
     after the date of enactment of this section and every 3 
     months thereafter for the duration of the COVID-19 public 
     health emergency, the Consumer Product Safety Commission 
     shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly 
     available, a report on the effect of the COVID-19 public 
     health emergency on injuries and deaths from consumer 
     products.
       (b) Contents of Report.--The report shall include the 
     following:
       (1) Relevant data and statistics from--
       (A) the data sources of the Commission;
       (B) other appropriate agencies;
       (C) media reports;
       (D) poison control centers, to the extent practical; and
       (E) any other relevant data sources.
       (2) An identification of trends in injuries and deaths from 
     consumer products, comparing data from representative time 
     periods before and during the COVID-19 public health 
     emergency.
       (3) An identification of subpopulations that have 
     experienced elevated risk of injury or death from consumer 
     products during the COVID-19 public health emergency, such as 
     minorities, infants, people with disabilities, children, or 
     the elderly.
       (4) An identification of where most injuries or deaths from 
     consumer products during the COVID-19 public health emergency 
     are taking place, such as the type of building or outdoor 
     environment.
       (5) A specification about whether consumer products 
     associated with a substantial number of injuries or deaths 
     during the COVID-19 public health emergency are--
       (A) under recall;
       (B) subject to a voluntary consumer product safety 
     standard; or
       (C) subject to a mandatory consumer product safety 
     standard.
       (6) An identification of emerging consumer products that 
     are posing new risks to consumers.
       (c) COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Defined.--The term 
     ``COVID-19 public health emergency'' means a public health 
     emergency declared pursuant to section 319 of the Public 
     Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) as a result of confirmed 
     cases of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19), including any 
     renewal thereof.

           TITLE II--PROTECTING TOURISM IN THE UNITED STATES

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Protecting Tourism in the 
     United States Act''.

     SEC. 202. STUDY AND REPORT ON EFFECTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON 
                   TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY IN UNITED STATES.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with 
     the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and the 
     head of any other Federal agency the Secretary considers 
     appropriate, shall complete a study on the effects of the 
     COVID-19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry, 
     including various segments of the travel and tourism 
     industry, such as domestic, international, leisure, business, 
     conventions, meetings, and events.
       (b) Matters for Consideration.--In conducting the study 
     required by subsection (a) and the interim study required by 
     subsection (e)(1), the Secretary shall consider--
       (1) changes in employment rates in the travel and tourism 
     industry during the pandemic period;
       (2) changes in revenues of businesses in the travel and 
     tourism industry during the pandemic period;
       (3) changes in employment and sales in industries related 
     to the travel and tourism industry, and changes in 
     contributions of the travel and tourism industry to such 
     related industries, during the pandemic period;

[[Page H5834]]

       (4) the effects attributable to the changes described in 
     paragraphs (1) through (3) in the travel and tourism industry 
     and such related industries on the overall economy of the 
     United States during the pandemic period and the projected 
     effects of such changes on the overall economy of the United 
     States following the pandemic period; and
       (5) any additional matters the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       (c) Consultation and Public Comment.--In conducting the 
     study required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
       (1) consult with representatives of--
       (A) the small business sector;
       (B) the restaurant or food service sector;
       (C) the hotel and alternative accommodations sector;
       (D) the attractions or recreations sector;
       (E) the travel distribution services sector;
       (F) destination marketing organizations;
       (G) State tourism offices; and
       (H) the passenger air, railroad, and rental car sectors; 
     and
       (2) provide an opportunity for public comment and advice 
     relevant to conducting the study.
       (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 6 months after the 
     date on which the study required by subsection (a) is 
     completed, the Secretary, in consultation with the United 
     States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and the head of any 
     other Federal agency the Secretary considers appropriate, 
     shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly 
     available on the website of the Department of Commerce, a 
     report that contains--
       (1) the results of such study; and
       (2) policy recommendations for promoting and assisting the 
     travel and tourism industry.
       (e) Interim Study and Report.--Not later than 3 months 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, after 
     consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the United 
     States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, shall--
       (1) complete an interim study, which shall be based on data 
     available at the time when the study is conducted and provide 
     a framework for the study required by subsection (a), on the 
     effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (as of such time) on the 
     travel and tourism industry, including various segments of 
     the travel and tourism industry, such as domestic, 
     international, leisure, business, conventions, meetings, and 
     events; and
       (2) submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly 
     available on the website of the Department of Commerce, an 
     interim report that contains the results of the interim study 
     required by paragraph (1).
       (f) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``pandemic period'' has the meaning given the 
     term ``emergency period'' in section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the 
     Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b-5(g)(1)(B)), excluding 
     any portion of such period after the date that is 1 year 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act;
       (2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce; 
     and
       (3) the term ``travel and tourism industry'' means the 
     travel and tourism industry in the United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 8121.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 8121. I want to begin 
by thanking Representatives Cardenas and Davis for their leadership on 
the bill, the Pandemic Effects on Home Safety and Tourism Act. This 
bill advanced out of the Energy and Commerce Committee by a voice vote.
  With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing us to spend more time at home and 
finding new indoor and outdoor activities suitable for social 
distancing, it is critically important that we keep track of any new 
trends in injuries and deaths that might be occurring.
  This bill will require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to 
provide quarterly updates to the American public regarding the effects 
of COVID-19 on home safety, including any emerging threats from either 
new products or new habits from working and playing at home. This 
report will assemble data from a variety of sources, including media 
reports and poison control centers, in addition to the CPSC's 
traditional data sources.
  The bill will also identify communities or groups that may be 
disproportionately affected so that we can better target efforts to 
protect those communities. We already know children are particularly 
vulnerable during these times as parents struggle to work remotely and 
supervise children at the same time. For example, there have been 
increased reports of accidental poisonings and fractures related to 
bicycle and trampoline usage. It is important to identify other groups 
that may also be vulnerable.
  I want to thank Representatives Castor and Upton for introducing 
another bill, the Protecting Tourism in the United States Act, which 
was incorporated in H.R. 8121 during the committee's consideration of 
the bill.
  Their legislation will rebuild the tourism and travel industry, which 
has struggled under the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. All sectors of 
the travel industry have been particularly hard hit, including hotels, 
restaurants, attractions, and passenger air, rail, and rental car 
sectors.
  This bill requires the Department of Commerce to conduct a detailed 
study and report to Congress on the effects of the pandemic on the 
tourism industry, including on jobs and revenue, so that we will know 
how to best direct assistance to the 16 million American workers and 
families who rely on the jobs that the travel industry supports.
  Again, I thank Ranking Member Walden and Subcommittee Ranking Member 
Rodgers for working with us to move this bill through the Energy and 
Commerce Committee. I also commend our Subcommittee Chair Schakowsky 
for her relentless commitment to fighting for consumers, and 
particularly for seniors, I want to say.
  Mr. Speaker, I call on my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8121, the Pandemic Effects on 
Home Safety and Tourism Act.
  I thank Representatives Cardenas and Davis for their leadership and 
effort on this bill to protect consumers. I also thank Ranking Member 
Upton and Chairman Castor, as their legislation to promote and assist 
the recovery of our tourism industry was adopted as part of this bill; 
as well as Ranking Member McMorris Rodgers and Chair Schakowsky along 
with, obviously, Chairman Pallone.
  The Pandemic Effects on Home Safety and Tourism Act would direct the 
Consumer Product Safety Commission to report and make available to the 
public information about injuries and deaths from consumer products 
during the COVID-19 pandemic. This would provide Americans with updates 
on trends of potentially hazardous products that have entered the 
marketplace during this critical time.
  In addition to studying the trends of injuries, the bill would 
support further research on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the 
U.S. travel and tourism industries. Many communities, particularly 
rural communities like those in my district, rely on tourism. We must 
have the information necessary to promote and assist the travel and 
tourism industry as we emerge from this devastating pandemic.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the authors of this legislation, 
Representatives Cardenas and Davis.
  As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens this winter, we must protect 
Americans who are spending more time in their homes. The pandemic has 
magnified risks associated with household consumer products. Children 
are particularly vulnerable, especially as parents are juggling their 
children while working from home.
  Unsupervised children face greater risks from bikes, scooters, 
trampolines, and pools. Calls to the poison control centers for 
children ingesting hand sanitizer have increased this year as well.
  This legislation will direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission 
to study and report on injuries and deaths that are associated with 
consumer products during the pandemic. It will ensure Americans have 
up-to-date information about risks to safety as the pandemic continues. 
We will learn

[[Page H5835]]

about emergency safety threats more quickly so that action can actually 
be taken to protect consumers.
  This legislation also deals with the issues that are being faced 
right now by the travel industry. This legislation directs the 
Department of Commerce to study and report to Congress on the impact of 
the pandemic on travel and tourism.

  As Americans stay in their homes to protect themselves, travel and 
tourism have plummeted. The industry is an important part of our 
national economy, and over 15.7 million Americans work in the travel 
and tourism industries. These jobs are vital to many local communities.
  The decline of travel and tourism has devastated many other parts of 
the economy. Live events, the arts, hotels, and restaurants have all 
felt the effect. We must understand the full impact of the pandemic on 
the travel and tourism industry so that we can help the industry 
recover and come back strong.
  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis), who has put so much work into this piece 
of legislation and so many others.
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Pallone 
and Ranking Member Walden for their leadership on this very important 
piece of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the Energy and Commerce Committee staff for 
working with us in a very bipartisan way to make sure that this bill 
came to the floor today with such bipartisan consensus.
  I also thank my colleague and my fellow original cosponsor of this 
bill, Congressman Cardenas from California, the vice chair of the House 
Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce. 
His leadership in introducing this bill was crucial, and I really 
appreciate him allowing me to be the bipartisan lead cosponsor.
  As my colleagues before me have stated so eloquently, the COVID-19 
pandemic has truly changed the world as we know it, and that includes 
many of our daily routines. We don't have to look much farther than the 
House floor to see that that has happened.
  Stay-at-home orders and COVID-19 mitigation efforts mean families and 
individuals are obviously spending more time at home. And when not--
like us--on Zoom calls, we need to be sure that, for the products that 
are in our homes, we understand the dangers that may exist for young 
children running around while parents are working to ensure that their 
jobs continue.
  This is a commonsense, bipartisan piece of legislation. As was said, 
it is going to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to study 
the effects of COVID-19 on families and the safety of our families and 
children.
  I ask that my colleagues remind themselves that this is another 
instance of true bipartisanship in a very polarized world that we all 
live in and to support this bill.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WALDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friends on both sides of the 
aisle and our terrific staffs for their great work on these 16 pieces 
of legislation that we brought forward to the House floor from the 
Energy and Commerce Committee.
  I urge passage of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8121, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to require 
the Consumer Product Safety Commission to study the effect of the 
COVID-19 pandemic on injuries and deaths associated with consumer 
products and to direct the Secretary of Commerce to study and report on 
the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry 
in the United States.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________