H.R. 6965 · 117th Congress · House

Visit America Act

In Congress· Received in the Senate.
Introduced
Mar 7, 22
Passed House
Sep 29, 22
Passed Senate
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

Visit America Act

This bill implements measures to support the U.S. travel and tourism industry and to address the declining percentage of international visitors to the United States.

Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Commerce to develop a 10-year travel and tourism strategy with annual goals for the number of international visitors to the United States and for tourism commerce.

The bill also establishes the role of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism, whose responsibilities shall include setting an annual goal for the number of international visitors to the United States and facilitating international business travel to the United States.

Further, the assistant secretary must develop and implement a COVID-19 pandemic recovery strategy to assist the recovery of the U.S. travel and tourism industry.

The bill also provides statutory authority for the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, which shall aid the assistant secretary in developing and implementing the COVID-19 pandemic recovery strategy.

Previous Versions

08Sep 28, 2022

Visit America Act

This bill implements measures to support the U.S. travel and tourism industry and to address the declining percentage of international visitors to the United States.

Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Commerce to develop a 10-year travel and tourism strategy with annual goals for the number of international visitors to the United States and for tourism commerce.

The bill also establishes the role of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism, whose responsibilities shall include (1) setting an annual goal for the number of international visitors to the United States, (2) providing support for improved visitor visa processing, and (3) facilitating international business travel to the United States.

Further, the assistant secretary must develop and implement a COVID-19 pandemic recovery strategy to assist the recovery of the U.S. travel and tourism industry.

The bill also provides statutory authority for the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, which shall aid the assistant secretary in developing and implementing the COVID-19 pandemic recovery strategy.

00Mar 7, 2022

Visit America Act

This bill implements measures to support the U.S. travel and tourism industry and to address the declining percentage of international visitors to the United States.

Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Commerce to develop a 10-year travel and tourism strategy with annual goals for the number of international visitors to the United States and for travel exports.

The bill also establishes the role of Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism, whose responsibilities shall include (1) setting an annual goal for the number of international visitors to the United States, (2) providing support for improved visitor visa processing, and (3) promoting travel exports abroad.

Further, the assistant secretary must develop and implement a COVID-19 pandemic recovery strategy to assist the recovery of the U.S. travel and tourism industry.

The bill also provides statutory authority for the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, which shall aid the assistant secretary in developing and implementing the COVID-19 pandemic recovery strategy.

Action Timeline

25
  1. OCT 11, 2022IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate.

  2. SEP 29, 2022Floor

    Considered as unfinished business

    (consideration: CR H8274-8275)

    8274Yea
    8275Nay
    0NV
  3. SEP 29, 2022Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Roll Call #466

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 325 - 93 (Roll no. 466).

    325Yea
    93Nay
    0NV
  4. SEP 29, 2022Floor

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 325 - 93 (Roll no. 466). (text: CR H8155-8156)

    Roll Call #466
    325Yea
    93Nay
    0NV
  5. SEP 29, 2022Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  6. SEP 28, 2022Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce

    H. Rept. 117-508, Part I.

    117Yea
    508Nay
    0NV
  7. SEP 28, 2022Committee

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce

    H. Rept. 117-508, Part I.

    117Yea
    508Nay
    0NV
  8. SEP 28, 2022Committee

    Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.

  9. SEP 28, 2022Discharge

    Committee on Foreign Affairs discharged.

  10. SEP 28, 2022Committee

    Committee on the Judiciary discharged.

  11. SEP 28, 2022Discharge

    Committee on the Judiciary discharged.

  12. SEP 28, 2022Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 382.

  13. SEP 28, 2022Floor

    Ms

    Schakowsky moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  14. SEP 28, 2022Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules

    (consideration: CR H8155-8157)

    8155Yea
    8157Nay
    0NV
  15. SEP 28, 2022Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6965.

  16. SEP 28, 2022Floor

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered

    Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  17. SEP 21, 2022Committee

    Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce Discharged.

  18. SEP 21, 2022Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  19. SEP 21, 2022Committee

    Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 56 - 0.

    56Yea
    0Nay
    0NV
  20. MAR 08, 2022Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.

  21. MAR 07, 2022IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  22. MAR 07, 2022IntroReferral

    Introduced in House

  23. MAR 07, 2022IntroReferral

    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  24. MAR 07, 2022IntroReferral

    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  25. MAR 07, 2022IntroReferral

    Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Committees

9

Judiciary Committee

hsju00

Referred: Sep 28, 2022

Active

Foreign Affairs Committee

hsfa00

Referred: Sep 28, 2022

Active

Energy and Commerce Committee

hsif00

Referred: Sep 28, 2022

Active

Energy and Commerce Committee

hsif00

Referred: Sep 21, 2022

Active

Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee

hsif17

Referred: Sep 21, 2022

Active

Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee

hsif17

Referred: Mar 8, 2022

Active

Judiciary Committee

hsju00

Referred: Mar 7, 2022

Active

Foreign Affairs Committee

hsfa00

Referred: Mar 7, 2022

Active

Energy and Commerce Committee

hsif00

Referred: Mar 7, 2022

Active