[Senate Report 117-110]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                  Calendar No. 192

117th Congress}                                           { Report
                                 SENATE
  2d Session  }                                           { 117-110

======================================================================
              PROTECTING TOURISM IN THE UNITED STATES ACT

                               __________

                              R E P O R T

                                 OF THE

           COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

                                  ON

                                 S. 115

[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


    May 18 (legislative day of May 17), 2022.--Ordered to be printed    
    
                              __________

                  U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE                    
                           WASHINGTON : 2022      
    
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------             
    
       SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
                    
                    One Hundred Seventeenth Congress
                             Second Session

                   MARIA CANTWELL, Washington, Chair
                   
AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota             ROGER WICKER, Mississippi
RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut      JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii                 ROY BLUNT, Missouri
EDWARD MARKEY, Massachusetts         TED CRUZ, Texas
GARY PETERS, Michigan                DEB FISCHER, Nebraska
TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin             JERRY MORAN, Kansas
TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois            DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska
JON TESTER, Montana                  MARSHA BLACKBURN, Tennessee
KYRSTEN SINEMA, Arizona              TODD YOUNG, Indiana
JACKY ROSEN, Nevada                  MIKE LEE, Utah
BEN RAY LUJAN, New Mexico            RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin
JOHN HICKENLOOPER, Colorado          SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia

RAPHAEL WARNOCK, Georgia             RICK SCOTT, Florida
                                     CYNTHIA LUMMIS, Wyoming
                       Lila Helms, Staff Director
                  John Keast, Minority Staff Director
                  
                  
                                                  Calendar No. 192

117th Congress}                                           { Report
                                 SENATE
  2d Session  }                                           { 117-110

======================================================================
 
              PROTECTING TOURISM IN THE UNITED STATES ACT

                                _______
                                

    May 18 (legislative day of May 17), 2022.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

      Ms. Cantwell, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 115]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to 
which was referred the bill (S. 115) 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, having 
considered the same, reports favorably thereon with amendments 
and recommends that the bill (as amended) do pass.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of S. 115 is to require the Secretary of 
Commerce (Secretary) to complete, report to Congress, and 
publish online a study detailing the effects of the COVID-19 
pandemic on the travel and tourism industry, including segments 
of the industry such as domestic, international, leisure, 
business, conventions, meetings, and events. The Secretary must 
consult with the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board and any 
other appropriate Federal agency. The Secretary also must 
consult with representatives of relevant sectors of the travel 
and tourism industry, and provide an opportunity for public 
input.

                          BACKGROUND AND NEEDS

    Travel and tourism is a key component of the U.S. economy; 
in 2019, travel and tourism generated over $1.1 trillion (about 
2.9 percent) of the United States' gross domestic product,\1\ 
made up 9 percent of total exports, supported 9.5 million jobs, 
and funded a $51 billion trade surplus.\2\ However, the travel 
and tourism industry has been disproportionately impacted by 
the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, annual travel spending in the 
United States experienced a 42-percent annual decline from 
2019, with international travel spending falling by 76 percent 
compared to 2019.\3\ During the pandemic, the leisure and 
hospitality sector experienced a peak unemployment rate of 39.3 
percent--higher than any other sector--and in May 2021, the 
sector had the highest unemployment rate, at 10.1 percent.\4\ 
Extensive research and attention is necessary to understand the 
full extent of impacts of the pandemic on the travel and 
tourism industry, as well as what measures will be necessary to 
facilitate the industry's recovery as quickly as possible.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\Sean F. Hennessey, ``Resilience in the Time of COVID: The 
Hospitality and Tourism Sector,'' U.S. Department of State, February 9, 
2021 (https://www.state.gov/briefings-foreign-press-
centers/resilience-in-the-time-of-covid-the-hospitality-and-tourism-
sector/).
    \2\National Travel and Tourism Office, FAST FACTS: U.S. Travel and 
Tourism Industry 2019, August 2020 (https://www.trade.gov/sites/
default/files/2020-12/Fast%20Facts%202019.pdf).
    \3\U.S. Travel Association, ``COVID-19 Travel Industry Research'' 
(https://www.ustravel.org/toolkit/covid-19-travel-industry-research-1) 
(accessed September 8, 2021).
    \4\Congressional Research Service, Unemployment Rates During the 
COVID-19 Pandemic, p. 9, updated August 20, 2021 (https://fas.org/sgp/
crs/misc/R46554.pdf).
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                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    S. 115 was introduced on January 28, 2021, by Senator 
Klobuchar (for herself and Senators Blunt, Rosen, and Scott 
[SC]) and was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate. Senators Cortez Masto, 
Cramer, and Sinema are additional cosponsors. On April 28, 
2021, the Committee met in open Executive Session and, by voice 
vote, ordered S. 115 reported favorably with an amendment.

                            ESTIMATED COSTS

    In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate and section 403 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee provides the 
following cost estimate, prepared by the Congressional Budget 
Office:

                       Congressional Budget Office,
                                             U.S. Congress,
                                   Washington, DC, August 13, 2021.
Hon. Maria Cantwell,
Chairwoman, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, U.S. 
        Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Madam Chairwoman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 115, the Protecting 
Tourism in the United States Act.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is David Hughes.
            Sincerely,
                                        Phillip. L. Swagel,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    

    S. 115 would require the Department of Commerce to study 
and report to the Congress on the effects of the coronavirus 
pandemic on the travel and tourism industry. The department 
would consult with private-sector entities, conduct interim and 
final studies, prepare reports based on economic data, and 
provide recommendations to assist the affected industries.
    Using information from the department, CBO expects that 
implementing the bill would cost about $2 million annually for 
2022 and 2023; such spending would be subject to the 
availability of appropriated funds. Those amounts would cover 
the compensation of seven staff members, at an average annual 
cost of $200,000 each, and data contracts necessary for the 
studies and reports.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is David Hughes. 
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy 
Director of Budget Analysis.

                      REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT

    Because S. 115 does not create any new programs, the 
legislation will have no additional regulatory impact, and will 
result in no additional reporting requirements. The legislation 
will have no further effect on the number or types of 
individuals and businesses regulated, the economic impact of 
such regulation, the personal privacy of affected individuals, 
or the paperwork required from such individuals and businesses.

                   CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

    In compliance with paragraph 4(b) of rule XLIV of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides that no 
provisions contained in the bill, as reported, meet the 
definition of congressionally directed spending items under the 
rule.

                      SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title.

    This section provides that the bill may be cited as the 
``Protecting Tourism in the United States Act''.

Section 2. Study and report on effects of COVID-19 pandemic on travel 
        and tourism industry in United States.

    Paragraph (a) directs the Secretary of Commerce, in 
consultation with the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory 
Board and any other Federal agency head deemed appropriate, to 
complete a study on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 
travel and tourism industry within 1 year of the bill's 
enactment.
    Paragraph (b) establishes that, in conducting the studies 
required by paragraphs (a) and (e), the Secretary must consider 
the following matters: (1) changes in employment rates and 
revenues of businesses in the travel and tourism industry 
during the pandemic period; (2) changes in employment and sales 
in industries related to the travel and tourism industry, as 
well as changes to the travel and tourism industry's 
contributions to those industries, during the pandemic period; 
(3) the effects of the former changes on the overall economy of 
the United States during and following the pandemic period; and 
(4) any other matters deemed appropriate.
    Paragraph (c) requires the Secretary, in conducting the 
study required by paragraph (a), to consult with 
representatives from the sectors on small business; restaurant 
or food service; hotel and alternative accommodations; 
attractions or recreations; travel distribution services; 
passenger air; railroads; and rental cars; as well as 
destination marketing organizations and state tourism offices. 
The Secretary must provide an opportunity for the public to 
give comment and advice on conducting the study.
    Paragraph (d) requires the Secretary to submit a report 
containing the results of the study and any policy 
recommendations for promoting and assisting the travel and 
tourism industry to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce 
and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation. The report must also be made publicly available 
on the Department of Commerce's website.
    Paragraph (e) requires the Secretary, in consultation with 
relevant stakeholders and within 3 months of the bill's 
enactment, to complete an interim study on the effects of the 
COVID-19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry based on 
the information available at the time the study is conducted. 
The interim report shall provide a framework for the study 
required by paragraph (a). A report containing the results of 
this interim study must be submitted to the House Committee on 
Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation, and be made publicly available on 
the Department of Commerce's website.
    Paragraph (f) defines the term ``pandemic period'' as 
having the meaning given the term ``emergency period'' in 
section 1135(g)(1)(B) of the Social Security Act,\5\ excluding 
any portion of such period that occurs more than 1 year after 
the bill is enacted. The term ``travel and tourism industry'' 
refers to the travel and tourism industry in the United States. 
The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce.
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    \5\42 U.S.C. 1320b-5(g)(1)(B).
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                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee states that the 
bill as reported would make no change to existing law.

                                  [all]