[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 22, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2942-H2944]
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. 3752) 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.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3752

       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''.

[[Page H2943]]

  


     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;
       (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 Kentucky (Mr. Guthrie) 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. 3752.
  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. 3752.
  I begin by thanking Representatives Cardenas, Castor, Davis, and 
Upton for their leadership on this bill, the Pandemic Effects on Home 
Safety and Tourism Act.
  While there is now light at the end of the tunnel for many Americans, 
the past 15 months have been unlike any other time in modern history. 
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to spend more time at home and find 
new indoor and outdoor activities suitable for social distancing, which 
has resulted in new injury patterns. Keeping track of any new trends in 
injuries and deaths that might be occurring can help us learn how to 
keep consumers safer at home now as well as in the future.
  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.
  Initial reports from the CPSC about injuries related to consumer 
products during COVID-19 are already concerning. For example, 
hospitalizations related to the ingestion of dangerous button cell 
batteries rose by 93 percent among young children during the period 
from March to September 2020, and injuries related to cleaning agents 
also rose 84 percent.
  Continued regular reporting required by this legislation can help 
parents better identify how to keep their children safe when they need 
to stay at home. And this bill will also identify communities or groups 
that may be disproportionately affected so that the CPSC can better 
target efforts to protect these communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased that this bill will also help rebuild 
the tourism and travel industry, which has certainly struggled under 
the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this legislation 
requires the Department of Commerce to conduct a detailed study and 
report to Congress on the pandemic's effects on the travel industry, 
including on jobs and revenue. And this information will be helpful in 
determining how we can best direct assistance to the 16 million 
American workers and families who rely on the jobs the travel industry 
supports.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank our Ranking Member Rodgers, and our Consumer 
Protection and Commerce Subcommittee Ranking Member Bilirakis, for 
working with us to build bipartisan support. And, of course, I also 
thank the chairwoman of this subcommittee, the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).
  Mr. Speaker, I call on my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3752, the 
Pandemic Effects on Home Safety and Tourism Act.
  I first thank Representatives Cardenas and Davis for their efforts on 
this bill to protect consumers. I also thank Representatives Upton and 
Castor for including provisions to promote and assist our tourism 
industry, an essential component of our Nation's economy, and something 
I care deeply about as cochair of the Congressional Tourism Caucus.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3752 directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission 
to report on trends of injuries and deaths from consumer products 
during the COVID-19 pandemic. As more Americans have spent time in 
their homes, it is important the CPSC continues to inform consumers 
with information about potentially hazardous products.
  Additionally, H.R. 3752 requires the Department of Commerce to study 
and report on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our travel and 
tourism industry. This industry plays a significant role in many local 
communities and supports over 50 million jobs across the Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.

[[Page H2944]]

  

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), the chairwoman of the 
subcommittee.
  I also want to say that she is really our superhero when it comes to 
these consumer issues, always looking out for things, because as the 
world changes, we have to constantly be vigilant. And that, she 
certainly is.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding and 
for his kind words.
  I also thank the authors of this legislation, Representatives 
Cardenas, Davis, Castor, and Upton, a bipartisan leadership group on 
this legislation.
  And I also thank the ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. 
Bilirakis, for his cooperation on this and so many other issues.
  Mr. Speaker, children are particularly vulnerable to risks associated 
with household consumer products. These risks have been magnified by 
the pandemic as families spend more time at home and parents juggle 
working from home and supervising children.
  This legislation will direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission 
to study and report injuries and deaths associated with consumer 
products during the pandemic. A lot of progress has been made, but the 
pandemic is not yet over.

  Americans deserve up-to-date information about emerging threats to 
the safety of their children, and so this legislation is very 
important.
  This legislation also directs the Department of Commerce to study and 
report to the Congress on the impact of the pandemic on the travel and 
tourism industries.
  These industries were really hit hard by the pandemic. Over 15.7 
million Americans work in travel or tourism. Many of these jobs are 
just now starting to come back. Industries that depend on travel or 
tourism like the arts, live events, hotels, and restaurants are still 
hurting. We must understand the full impact of the pandemic on travel 
and tourism so that we can help these industries to be able to build 
back better.
  Mr. GUTHRIE. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote for this 
bill. I think it is a good bill, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I also urge bipartisan support for 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. 3752.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  MR. ROSENDALE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________