[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7454 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7454
To direct the United States Trade Representative to prioritize the
formation of a working group on travel and tourism during the next
joint review conducted under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 9, 2026
Ms. Titus (for herself, Mr. Buchanan, and Mr. Bilirakis) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the United States Trade Representative to prioritize the
formation of a working group on travel and tourism during the next
joint review conducted under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``USMCA Travel and Tourism Resiliency
Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) North america.--The term ``North America'' means the
United States, Canada, and Mexico.
(2) USMCA.--The term ``USMCA'' has the meaning given that
term in section 3 of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 4502(9)).
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the travel and tourism industry is an integral part of
the economy of the United States, worth approximately
$1,300,000,000,000 and supporting approximately 15,000,000 jobs
in the United States in 2024, according to the U.S. Travel
Association;
(2) the United States is a global leader in the trade of
travel and tourism services;
(3) according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the
Department of Commerce, travel and tourism was the top services
export of the United States in 2024, which--
(A) accounted for 19 percent of all United States
services exports and 7 percent of all United States
exports;
(B) were worth approximately $214,000,000,000; and
(C) supported an approximate $35,000,000,000 trade
surplus;
(4) Canada and Mexico are important trading partners for
the travel and tourism economy of the United States, typically
accounting for approximately half of international visitations
to the United States;
(5) Canada is the top source of international visitors to
the United States, with approximately 20,400,000 visits in
2024, generating approximately $20,500,000,000 in spending and
supporting approximately 140,000 jobs in the United States;
(6) Mexico is another top source of international visitors
to the United States, generating billions of dollars for the
economy of the United States and supporting thousands of jobs
in the United States;
(7) it is in the interest of people in the United States to
travel efficiently and openly to Canada and Mexico;
(8) the USMCA underpins much of trade in North America and
provides an important channel for discussions and activities
that further the competitiveness and economic growth of the
United States; and
(9) the establishment of a Travel and Tourism Trade Working
Group under the USMCA would help to support the continued
growth of the tourism industry in North America and the good-
paying jobs that industry supports.
SEC. 4. JOINT REVIEW NEGOTIATING OBJECTIVE FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF TRAVEL
AND TOURISM WORKING GROUP.
(a) In General.--Subject to the requirements of section 611 of the
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act (19 U.S.C.
4611), during the first joint review (as defined in that section)
conducted after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Trade
Representative shall advocate for the establishment of a Travel and
Tourism Trade Working Group under the USMCA (in this section referred
to as the ``Working Group'') that complies with the requirements of
this section.
(b) Administration.--
(1) In general.--The Working Group shall be co-chaired by
representatives of the government of each of the United States,
Canada, and Mexico and shall be comprised of officials
responsible for issues related to travel and tourism.
(2) United states representation.--With respect to the
United States, the Working Group shall be composed of
representatives from--
(A) the Office of the United States Trade
Representative;
(B) the Department of Commerce;
(C) the Department of State;
(D) the Department of Homeland Security;
(E) the Department of the Interior;
(F) the Department of Labor;
(G) the Department of Transportation; and
(H) such other agencies or departments as the
President considers appropriate.
(c) Input and Advice.--
(1) In general.--The Working Group shall seek input and
advice from representatives of the travel and tourism industry
on current and emerging issues that impact travel and tourism
in North America.
(2) United states representation.--With respect to the
United States, representatives for which input and advice is
sought under paragraph (1) shall include the U.S. Travel and
Tourism Advisory Board.
(d) Duties.--The Working Group shall--
(1) engage in discussions and pursue activities--
(A) to enhance the international competitiveness of
the travel and tourism industry in North America;
(B) to increase North American exports of travel
and tourism services; and
(C) to create employment and economic growth in
North America through those exports; and
(2) provide a forum for the United States, Mexico, and
Canada--
(A) to exchange information on issues impacting
travel and tourism in North America;
(B) to collaborate, when possible, on policies
impacting travel and tourism in North America,
including with respect to intercontinental travel and
facilitating broader international visitation; and
(C) to consider the development of initiatives that
can further enhance the competitiveness of travel and
tourism in North America.
(e) Meetings.--The Working Group shall meet not less frequently
than annually.
(f) Briefings and Consultation.--
(1) In general.--The United States Government
representatives of the Working Group shall regularly brief and
consult the appropriate committees of Congress on the
activities of the Working Group.
(2) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--In this
subsection, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress''
means--
(A) the Committee on Finance and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;
and
(B) the Committee on Ways and Means and the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives.
<all>