,i #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fife ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,march #g1 #bjbb,ms4 ,titus 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,case1 and ,mr4 ,young7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,foreign ,affairs1 and the ,judiciary1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to promote travel and tourism in the ,united ,states1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,visit ,america ,act4 #b4 ,purposes ,the purposes of this ,act are-- 7#a7 to support the travel and tourism industry1 which produces economic impacts that are vital to our national economy2 and 7#b7 to establish national goals for international visitors to the ,united ,states1 including-- 7,a7 recommendations for achieving such goals and timelines for implementing such recommendations2 7,b7 coordination between ,federal and ,state agencies2 7,c7 the resources needed by each ,government agency to achieve such goals2 and 7,d7 the number of international visitors and the value of national travel exports4 #c4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 setting a national goal for the number of international visitors to the ,united ,states is vital for aligning ,federal tourism policy to support ,american jobs and economic growth2 7#b7 setting a national goal for travel exports is vital for aligning ,federal tourism policy to support ,american jobs1 increase travel exports1 and improve our ,nation's balance of trade2 7#c7 the travel industry is an essential part of the ,united ,states services exports with respect to business1 education1 medical1 and leisure travel2 7#d7 the promotion of travel and visitation by the ,corporation for ,travel ,promotion 7doing business as ,brand ,,usa7 is vital to increasing visitation and articulating the visitation laws of the ,united ,states2 and 7#e7 there is an urgent need for a coordinated travel and tourism industry response and strategy to respond to the current state of such industry and future unforeseen circumstances that may impact the travel and tourism industry4 #d4 ,assistant ,secretary for ,travel and ,tourism ,section #b7;d7 of the ,reorganization ,plan ,numbered #c of #aigi 7#ic ,stat4 #achb2 #e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking ,there shall be in the ,department two additional ,assistant ,secretaries and inserting 7#a7 ,there shall be in the ,department #c additional ,assistant ,secretaries1 including the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,travel and ,tourism12 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7#b7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,travel and ,tourism shall-- 7,a7 be appointed by the ,president1 subject to the advice and consent of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 report directly to the ,under ,secretary for ,international ,trade4 4 #e4 ,responsibilities of the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,travel and ,tourism 7a7 ,visitation goals ,the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,travel and ,tourism 7referred to in this section as the ,assistant ,secretary71 appointed pursuant to section #b7;d7 of the ,reorganization ,plan ,numbered #c of #aigi1 as amended by section #d1 shall-- 7#a7 establish an annual goal1 consistent with the goals of the travel and tourism strategy developed pursuant to section #f7a71 for-- 7,a7 the number of international visitors to the ,united ,states2 and 7,b7 the value of travel exports2 7#b7 develop recommendations for achieving the annual goals established pursuant to paragraph 7#a72 7#c7 ensure that travel and tourism policy is developed in consultation with-- 7,a7 the ,tourism ,policy ,council2 7,b7 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security2 7,c7 the ,national ,travel and ,tourism ,office2 7,d7 ,brand ,,usa2 7,e7 the ,united ,states ,travel and ,tourism ,advisory ,board2 and 7,f7 travel industry partners1 including public and private destination marketing organizations1 travel and tourism suppliers1 and labor representatives from these industries2 7#d7 establish short-1 medium-1 and long-term timelines for implementing the recommendations developed pursuant to paragraph 7#b72 7#e7 conduct ,federal agency needs assessments1 in consultation with the ,office of ,management and ,budget1 to identify the resources1 statutory or regulatory changes1 and private sector engagement needed to achieve the annual visitation goals2 and 7#f7 provide assessments and recommendations to-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 7,b7 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce of the ,house of ,representatives2 and 7,c7 the public through a publicly accessible website4 7b7 ,visa adjudication ,the ,assistant ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,state and the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 shall-- 7#a7 explore strategies for improving visitor visa processing with respect to-- 7,a7 the maximum time for processing visas1 by visitation type2 7,b7 regulatory and policy changes needed to meet the visa processing goals referred to in subparagraph 7,a71 including changes regarding technology1 processing centers1 and training2 and 7,c7 streamlining visa applications and adjudications1 including application design and data collection procedures2 and 7#b7 explore opportunities to establish pilot programs to integrate technology into the visitor visa adjudication process1 including video conferencing and biometrics4 7c7 ,domestic travel and tourism ,the ,assistant ,secretary1 to the extent feasible1 shall-- 7#a7 evaluate1 on an ongoing basis1 domestic policy options for supporting competitiveness with respect to the strengths1 weaknesses1 and growth of the domestic travel industry2 7#b7 develop recommendations and goals to support and enhance domestic tourism1 separated by business and leisure2 and 7#c7 engage public and private stakeholders to support domestic tourism4 7d7 ,workforce ,the ,assistant ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 consult with the ,secretary of ,labor to develop strategies and best practices for improving the timeliness and reliability of travel and tourism workforce data2 7#b7 work with the ,secretary of ,labor and the ,bureau of ,economic ,analysis to improve travel and tourism industry data2 and 7#c7 provide recommendations for policy enhancements and efficiencies4 7e7 ,travel export promotion ,the ,assistant ,secretary1 in coordination with the ,assistant ,secretary of ,commerce for ,global ,markets and the ,director ,general of the ,united ,states and ,foreign ,commercial ,service1 shall work to promote and facilitate travel exports abroad and ensure competitiveness by engaging in1 at a minimum-- 7#a7 promoting meetings1 incentives1 conferences1 and exhibitions2 7#b7 emphasizing rural and other destinations rich in cultural heritage or ecological tourism1 among other uniquely ,american destinations2 and 7#c7 promoting sports and recreation events and activities1 which shall be hosted in the ,united ,states4 7f7 ,recovery strategy 7#a7 ,initial recovery strategy ,not later than #a year after amounts are appropriated to accomplish the purposes of this section1 the ,assistant ,secretary1 in consultation with public and private stakeholders identified in subsection 7a77#c7 and public health officials1 shall develop and implement a ,,covid-#ai public health emergency recovery strategy to assist the ,united ,states travel and tourism industry to quickly recover from the pandemic4 7#b7 ,future recovery strategies ,after assisting in the implementation of the strategy developed pursuant to paragraph 7#a71 the ,assistant ,secretary1 in consultation with appropriate public and private stakeholders1 shall develop additional recovery strategies for the travel and tourism industry in anticipation of other unforeseen catastrophic events that would significantly affect the travel and tourism industry1 such as hurricanes1 floods1 tsunamis1 tornadoes1 terrorist attacks1 and pandemics4 7#c7 ,cost-benefit analysis ,in developing the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency recovery strategy under paragraph 7#a7 and additional recovery strategies for the travel and tourism industry under paragraph 7#b71 the ,assistant ,secretary shall conduct cost-benefit analyses that take into account the health and economic effects of public health mitigation measures on the travel and tourism industry4 7g7 ,reporting requirements 7#a7 ,assistant secretary ,the ,assistant ,secretary shall produce an annual forecasting report on the travel and tourism industry1 to the extent feasible1 which shall include current and anticipated-- 7,a7 domestic employment needs2 7,b7 international inbound volume and spending1 taking into account the lasting effects of the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency and the impact of the recovery strategy implemented pursuant to subsection 7f77#a72 and 7,c7 domestic volume and spending1 including ,federal and ,state public land travel and tourism data4 7#b7 ,bureau of economic analysis ,the ,director of the ,bureau of ,economic ,analysis should annually update1 to the extent feasible1 the ,travel and ,tourism ,satellite ,accounts1 including-- 7,a7 ,state level travel and tourism spending data2 7,b7 travel and tourism workforce data for full-time and part-time employment2 and 7,c7 ,federal and ,state public lands spending data4 7#c7 ,national travel and tourism office ,the ,director of the ,national ,travel and ,tourism ,office-- 7,a7 in partnership with the ,bureau of ,economic ,analysis1 shall report international arrival and spending data on a regular monthly schedule1 which shall be made available to the ,travel and ,tourism ,advisory ,board and to the public through a publicly available website2 and 7,b7 shall include questions in the ,survey of ,international ,air ,travelers regarding wait-times1 visits to public lands1 and ,state data1 to the extent applicable4 #f4 ,travel and tourism strategy ,not less frequently than once every #aj years1 the ,secretary of ,commerce1 in consultation with the ,united ,states ,travel and ,tourism ,advisory ,board1 the ,tourism ,policy ,council1 and the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 shall develop and submit to ,congress a #aj-year travel and tourism strategy1 which shall include-- 7#a7 the establishment of goals with respect to the number of annual international visitors to the ,united ,states and the annual value of travel exports during such #aj-year period2 7#b7 the resources needed to achieve the goals established pursuant to paragraph 7#a72 and 7#c7 recommendations for statutory or regulatory changes that would be necessary to achieve such goals4 #g4 ,united ,states ,travel and ,tourism ,advisory ,board ,section #c of the ,act entitled ,an ,act to encourage travel in the ,united ,states1 and for other purposes 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #aedf7 is amended-- 7#a7 by amending the section heading to read as follows3 united states travel and tourism advisory board2 advisory committee2 and 7#b7 by striking ,the ,secretary of ,commerce is authorized and inserting the following3 7a7 ,united ,states ,travel and ,tourism ,advisory ,board 7#a7 ,in general ,there is established the ,united ,states ,travel and ,tourism ,advisory ,board 7referred to in this subsection as the ,board71 the members of which shall be appointed by the ,secretary of ,commerce for #b-year terms from among companies and organizations in the travel and tourism industry4 7#b7 ,executive director ,the ,assistant ,secretary for ,travel and ,tourism shall serve as the ,executive ,director of the ,board4 7#c7 ,executive secretariat ,the ,director of the ,national ,travel and ,tourism ,office of the ,international ,trade ,administration shall serve as the ,executive ,secretariat for the ,board4 7#d7 ,functions ,the ,board's ,charter shall specify that the ,board will-- 7,a7 serve as the advisory body to the ,secretary of ,commerce on matters relating to the travel and tourism industry in the ,united ,states2 7,b7 advise the ,secretary of ,commerce on ,government policies and programs that affect the ,united ,states travel and tourism industry2 7,c7 offer counsel on current and emerging issues2 7,d7 provide a forum for discussing and proposing solutions to problems related to the travel and tourism industry2 and 7,e7 provide advice regarding the domestic travel and tourism industry as an economic engine4 7#e7 ,recovery strategy ,the ,board shall assist the ,assistant ,secretary in the development and implementation of the ,,covid-#ai public health emergency recovery strategy required under section #e7;f77#a7 of the ,visit ,america ,act4 7b7 ,advisory committee for promotion of tourist travel ,the ,secretary of ,commerce is authorized 4 #h4 ,data on domestic travel and tourism ,the ,secretary of ,commerce1 subject to the availability of appropriations1 shall collect and make public aggregate data on domestic travel and tourism trends by individuals traveling between points within the ,united ,states4 #i4 ,defined term ,in this ,act1 the term ,,covid-#ai public health emergency-- 7#a7 means the public health emergency first declared on ,january #ca1 #bjbj1 by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services under section #cai of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bdg;d7 with respect to ,,covid-#ai2 and 7#b7 includes any renewal of such declaration pursuant to such section #cai4