Airport Alert: Senate Commerce Committee Advances Omnibus Tourism Bill
December 15, 2021
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee met to consider several nominations and legislative items. As part of that executive session, the Committee favorably approved the Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act of 2021, which is intended to support the recovery of the travel and tourism economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This legislation includes:
• a modified version of H.R. 4094, the House-passed One Stop Pilot Program Act, which allows TSA to run a pilot program at six airports in which a traveler and their carry-on baggage would not need to be re-screened upon arrival in the United States for their domestic connecting flight if the last point of departure airport has a commensurate level of screening to the United States.
• S.82, the Ensuring Health Safety in the Sky Act that instructs the Departments of Transportation, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security to establish a joint task force on air travel during and after the coronavirus pandemic. This task force, advised by aviation, security, and public health experts, will then develop recommended requirements, plans, and guidelines to address the health, safety, security, and logistical challenges for air travel moving forward.
• S.343, the Fly Safe Canine COVID Detection Act, which requires TSA to conduct a feasibility study on the use of canine units to detect the presence of COVID-19.
Additionally, the Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act includes provisions that elevate travel and tourism matters at the Department of Commerce, promote travel and visitation goals for international travelers to the United States, update the Department of Transportation's National Travel and Tourism Infrastructure Strategic Plan, and requires a study and report on the impacts of COVID-19 on the travel and tourism industry.
During the markup, two amendments introduced by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) were ultimately adopted. The first amendment requires the Department of Commerce to conduct cost-benefit analyses when preparing travel and tourism recovery strategies, while the second requires the Secretary of Commerce, when conducting an interim study on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry, to consider the effects of certain Federal regulations on the industry, as well.
The Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act of 2021 will now advance to the full Senate for consideration. Based on the brevity of the legislative calendar, this consideration is unlikely to occur before the end of 2021.
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee met to consider several nominations and legislative items. As part of that executive session, the Committee favorably approved the Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act of 2021, which is intended to support the recovery of the travel and tourism economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This legislation includes:
• a modified version of H.R. 4094, the House-passed One Stop Pilot Program Act, which allows TSA to run a pilot program at six airports in which a traveler and their carry-on baggage would not need to be re-screened upon arrival in the United States for their domestic connecting flight if the last point of departure airport has a commensurate level of screening to the United States.
• S.82, the Ensuring Health Safety in the Sky Act that instructs the Departments of Transportation, Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security to establish a joint task force on air travel during and after the coronavirus pandemic. This task force, advised by aviation, security, and public health experts, will then develop recommended requirements, plans, and guidelines to address the health, safety, security, and logistical challenges for air travel moving forward.
• S.343, the Fly Safe Canine COVID Detection Act, which requires TSA to conduct a feasibility study on the use of canine units to detect the presence of COVID-19.
Additionally, the Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act includes provisions that elevate travel and tourism matters at the Department of Commerce, promote travel and visitation goals for international travelers to the United States, update the Department of Transportation's National Travel and Tourism Infrastructure Strategic Plan, and requires a study and report on the impacts of COVID-19 on the travel and tourism industry.
During the markup, two amendments introduced by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) were ultimately adopted. The first amendment requires the Department of Commerce to conduct cost-benefit analyses when preparing travel and tourism recovery strategies, while the second requires the Secretary of Commerce, when conducting an interim study on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel and tourism industry, to consider the effects of certain Federal regulations on the industry, as well.
The Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act of 2021 will now advance to the full Senate for consideration. Based on the brevity of the legislative calendar, this consideration is unlikely to occur before the end of 2021.
