USMCA Travel and Tourism Resiliency Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7454
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Foreign Trade and International Finance
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-09: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-25T08:08:57Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The USMCA Travel and Tourism Resiliency Act (H.R. 7454) aims to strengthen the travel and tourism sector in North America by directing the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to push for the creation of a dedicated working group during the next joint review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). This group would focus on enhancing cooperation among the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to boost the competitiveness, exports, and job growth in the tourism industry, which is a major economic driver.
Key Provisions
- Short Title and Definitions: The bill is titled the "USMCA Travel and Tourism Resiliency Act." It defines "North America" as the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and "USMCA" as the trade agreement implemented under existing U.S. law (19 U.S.C. 4502(9)).
- Sense of Congress: This non-binding section expresses Congress's view on the importance of travel and tourism:
- It contributes about $1.3 trillion to the U.S. economy and supports 15 million jobs (per 2024 data from the U.S. Travel Association).
- Tourism is the top U.S. services export, worth $214 billion in 2024, representing 19% of all services exports and generating a $35 billion trade surplus.
- Canada and Mexico account for roughly half of international visitors to the U.S., with Canada alone driving 20.4 million visits, $20.5 billion in spending, and 140,000 jobs.
- Open travel benefits U.S. citizens, and the USMCA provides a key platform for economic discussions.
- A new working group would support tourism growth and good-paying jobs across North America.
- Joint Review Negotiating Objective:
- During the first USMCA joint review after the bill's enactment (subject to section 611 of the USMCA Implementation Act, 19 U.S.C. 4611), the USTR must advocate for establishing a "Travel and Tourism Trade Working Group."
- Administration: The group will be co-chaired by representatives from each country's government, focusing on travel and tourism issues. For the U.S., it includes officials from the USTR, Departments of Commerce, State, Homeland Security, Interior, Labor, and Transportation, plus any other agencies the President deems appropriate.
- Input and Advice: The group must consult industry representatives on key issues, including the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board.
- Duties:
- Promote discussions and activities to improve North American tourism competitiveness, expand exports of tourism services, and drive job and economic growth.
- Serve as a forum for sharing information, collaborating on policies (e.g., easing intercontinental travel to attract more global visitors), and developing initiatives to enhance the sector.
- Meetings: The group must convene at least once a year.
- Briefings and Consultation: U.S. representatives must regularly update relevant congressional committees (Senate: Finance and Commerce, Science, and Transportation; House: Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce) on the group's activities.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill does not amend existing statutes directly but introduces a specific negotiating mandate under the USMCA Implementation Act (19 U.S.C. 4611). It requires the USTR to prioritize tourism in the upcoming joint review, which could lead to new commitments in the USMCA framework. No alterations to current trade laws are made; instead, it builds on the existing USMCA review process (typically every six years) by adding a focused objective for tourism cooperation.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Multiple U.S. departments (e.g., Commerce, State, Homeland Security) will need to coordinate representation and activities, potentially increasing administrative workload but fostering interagency collaboration on trade and tourism policy.
- Citizens: Could indirectly benefit U.S. workers and businesses in tourism by supporting job creation (e.g., 15 million jobs nationally) and economic growth through easier cross-border travel and higher visitor spending from Canada and Mexico.
- International Relations: Strengthens trilateral ties under the USMCA by creating a formal channel for U.S.-Canada-Mexico dialogue on tourism, potentially improving bilateral travel policies and attracting more global tourists to North America, which could enhance economic interdependence.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Travel and Tourism Industry: Private sector players, including hotels, airlines, and tour operators, who will provide input and benefit from enhanced competitiveness and exports.
- Governments of North America: U.S. federal agencies (USTR, Departments of Commerce, etc.), plus counterparts in Canada and Mexico, responsible for implementing and participating in the working group.
- U.S. Congress: Specific committees (e.g., House Ways and Means, Senate Finance) that receive briefings and oversee progress.
- Workers and Communities: Employees in tourism-dependent regions, such as border states or major tourist destinations, who rely on international visitors for jobs and revenue.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on the USMCA Implementation Act for authority, ensuring compliance with international trade obligations. The working group would operate as a voluntary forum without enforceable new rules, avoiding potential disputes under USMCA's dispute resolution mechanisms.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's powers under Article I, Section 8 to regulate commerce with foreign nations, as it directs trade negotiations without infringing on executive treaty-making authority.
- Political: Signals bipartisan support for economic recovery in a key sector (introduced by Representatives Titus, Buchanan, and Bilirakis), potentially influencing future USMCA reviews (next expected around 2026). It emphasizes non-partisan economic priorities like job growth and trade surpluses, without addressing controversial issues like immigration or tariffs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Buchanan, Vern [R-FL-16], Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-09: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 2026-02-09: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- USMCA Travel and Tourism Resiliency Act — issued 2026-02-09 — PDF (7 pages)