,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dbii ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bc1 #bjbj,ms4 ,cortez ,masto 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,blunt1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 and ,mr4 ,cramer7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to provide grants for tourism and events support and promotion in areas affected by the ,coronavirus ,disease #bjai 7,,covid-#ai71 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,sustaining ,tourism ,enterprises ,during the ,,covid-#ai ,pandemic ,act or the ,,step ,act4 #b4 ,tourism and events support and promotion ,title ,,ii of the ,public ,works and ,economic ,development ,act of #aife is amended by inserting after section #bjg 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cadg7 the following3 #bjh4 ,tourism and events support and promotion 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of the ,sustaining ,tourism ,enterprises ,during the ,,covid-#ai ,pandemic ,act1 the ,secretary shall provide grants to eligible entities-- 7#a7 to assist with loss of revenue due to the economic impact of the ,coronavirus ,disease #bjai 7,,covid-#ai72 and 7#b7 to promote economic recovery in communities affected by a decline in tourism and events due to ,,covid-#ai4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,an entity eligible to receive a grant under this section is an entity that performs tourism promotion responsibilities1 hosts1 organizes1 owns1 operates1 or staffs an event venue1 a convention1 or a trade show1 or provides services as a concessionaire to events and tourism locations1 including-- 7#a7 a ,state tourism board or department2 7#b7 a political subdivision or instrumentality of a ,state or local government2 7#c7 a unit of local government1 including a county government2 7#d7 a ,tribal government2 7#e7 a multijurisdictional or regional group2 7#f7 a nonprofit organization described in section #eja7;c7 of the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and exempt from taxation under section #eja7;a7 of that ,code2 7#g7 a quasi-governmental organization2 and 7#h7 a private business4 7c7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7d7 ,selection ,the ,secretary shall select eligible entities to receive grants under this section based on factors to be determined by the ,secretary1 using the best available data1 including economic impact information provided by applicants1 such as information on job losses faced by the eligible entity or within the industry of the eligible entity1 to address the economic recovery needs in areas impacted by the decline in travel1 tourism1 and events activities1 and the associated revenues1 due to ,,covid-#ai4 7e7 ,use of funds 7#a7 ,in general ,an eligible entity may use the funds from a grant under this section-- 7,a7 to pay costs associated with tourism marketing and promotion activities necessary to assist with economic recovery from lost revenue due to ,,covid-#ai1 including to purchase media advertisements on print1 broadcast1 or digital media for the purpose of marketing1 public awareness1 or information campaigns relating to local tourism2 7,b7 to pay costs to promote economic recovery in communities impacted by a decline in travel1 tourism1 and events revenue as a result of ,,covid-#ai1 including through the provision of information on the safety and security of sites for traveler or attendee awareness2 7,c7 to pay cleaning and sanitary costs1 including physical modifications1 associated with precautions to provide for safe worker1 traveler1 or event environments2 and 7,d7 to pay the costs of salaries and expenses associated with the operations of the eligible entity with respect to activities described in subparagraphs 7,a71 7,b71 and 7,c74 7#b7 ,prohibition ,funds from a grant under this section may not be used for activities related to or for purposes of lobbying any governmental entity4 7f7 ,distribution ,of the amounts made available to carry out this section-- 7#a7 #b1jjj1jjj1jjj shall be for expedited grants to eligible entities to offset revenue losses due to the economic impact of ,,covid-#ai2 and 7#b7 any remaining amounts shall be for grants for activities described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d7 of subsection 7e77#a74 7g7 ,maximum amount of grant ,an eligible entity may not receive a grant under this section in an amount that is-- 7#a7 in the case of a grant under subsection 7f77#a71 more than #hj percent of the loss in revenue experienced by the eligible entity during the period beginning ,march #a1 #bjbj1 and ending on the date of submission of the application1 as compared to the same period in #bjai2 and 7#b7 in the case of a grant under subsection 7f77#b71 more than #hj percent of the revenue of the eligible entity during calendar year #bjai4 7h7 ,limitation 7#a7 ,in general ,not more than #ae percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section may be used to provide grants to eligible entities that are private businesses4 7#b7 ,priority ,the ,secretary shall give priority for the amounts under paragraph 7#a7 to private businesses that are small business concerns 7within the meaning of section #c of the ,small ,business ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #fcb774 7i7 ,no ,,ceds required ,to receive a grant under this section1 an eligible entity shall not be required to have a comprehensive economic development strategy4 7j7 ,waiver ,the ,secretary may waive1 or specify alternative requirements for1 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 section4 7k7 ,federal share ,notwithstanding section #bjd1 the ,federal share of the cost of an activity carried out with a grant under this section shall be #ajj percent4 7l7 ,administration 7#a7 ,in general ,not more than #b percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section may be used for the administrative costs of carrying out this section4 7#b7 ,staffing 7,a7 ,temporary appointment ,the ,secretary may appoint and fix the compensation of such temporary personnel as may be necessary to carry out this section1 without regard to the provisions of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 governing appointments in competitive service4 7,b7 ,permanent appointment 7i7 ,in general ,in the case of an individual appointed as temporary personnel under subparagraph 7,a7 who has served continuously for not less than #b years1 the ,secretary may appoint that individual to a position in the ,economic ,development ,administration in the same manner that competitive service employees with competitive status are considered for transfer1 reassignment1 or promotion to such positions4 7ii7 ,treatment ,an individual appointed to a position under clause 7i7 shall become a career-conditional employee1 unless the employee has already completed the service requirements for career tenure4 7#c7 ,investigations and audits ,the ,secretary shall use #c1jjj1jjj of the amounts made available to carry out this section to carry out investigations and audits related to the provision of grants under this section4 7m7 ,funding 7#a7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this section #aj1jjj1jjj1jjj1 to remain available until ,september #cj1 #bjbb4 7#b7 ,additional funding ,notwithstanding any other provision of law1 the ,secretary may use any amounts made available to the ,secretary under the heading economic development assistance programs 7including transfers of funds7 under the heading ,economic ,development ,administration under the heading ,department of ,commerce in title ,,ii of division ,b of the ,,cares ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-acf7 that are unobligated as of the date of enactment of the ,sustaining ,tourism ,enterprises ,during the ,,covid-#ai ,pandemic ,act to provide grants under this section4 4