[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1516 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1516
To amend titles 23 and 49, United States Code, to encourage travel and
tourism, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 29, 2021
Ms. Cortez Masto introduced the following bill; which was read twice
and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend titles 23 and 49, United States Code, to encourage travel and
tourism, 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 ``Transportation Resources to Add
Vital Economic Longevity Act'' or the ``TRAVEL Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) travel is the seventh-largest industry in the United
States, with respect to employment;
(2) the Department of Transportation document entitled
``National Travel and Tourism Infrastructure Strategic Plan FY
2020-2024'' and dated January 2021--
(A) states that--
(i) the travel and tourism industry in the
United States--
(I) supports 1 out of 10 United
States jobs;
(II) accounts for--
(aa) 2.9 percent of the
annual gross domestic product;
and
(bb) more than 15,000,000
jobs; and
(III) annually contributes
$2,600,000,000,000 in economic activity
across each State and territory;
(ii) the national intermodal transportation
network is the backbone of the travel and
tourism industry, facilitating the large-scale
movement of business and leisure travelers
throughout the United States;
(iii) the performance of the highway
network, as in existence on the date of
enactment of this Act, has been suboptimal for
travel in urban areas of all sizes, leading to
steadily increasing travel time in all urban
areas, including--
(I) small urban areas with a
population of less than 500,000
individuals; and
(II) very large urban areas with a
population of more than 3,000,000
individuals;
(iv) seamless, multimodal travel options
are critical to supporting business and leisure
travel in the United States;
(v)(I) approximately 9 out of 10 long-
distance passenger trips covering a distance of
more than 50 miles involve the use of a
personal vehicle; and
(II) most tourist travel in the United
States occurs in personal vehicles;
(vi)(I) intercity buses and motor coaches
are also significant modes of travel; and
(II) in calendar year 2015, there were more
than 600,000,000 passenger trips taken by motor
coach, a number that represents--
(aa) nearly as many passenger trips
as were taken through United States
airlines; and
(bb) 20 times as many passenger
trips as were taken on Amtrak; and
(vii)(I) the usage of public roads as of
the date of enactment of this Act is greater
than such usage 30 years before that date of
enactment; but
(II) road capacity has increased by
approximately 8 percent, while vehicle miles
traveled has increased by approximately 50
percent;
(B) forecasts that--
(i) by 2023--
(I) domestic long-distance trips
will increase, as compared to 2018
levels, by 8.6 percent; and
(II) leisure trips will comprise
approximately 80 percent of all
domestic trips in the United States
each year; and
(ii) by 2045, significant congestion is
expected on many United States highways, which
will greatly affect tourism travel, as
passenger vehicles and motor coaches will be
caught in congested highway stretches alongside
major freight networks;
(C) finds that international tourism across all
countries--
(i) increased from 1,000,000,000 trips
during calendar year 2012 to 1,400,000,000
during calendar year 2018; and
(ii) is estimated to increase to
1,800,000,000 or more trips during calendar
year 2030;
(D) describes financial barriers, including the
findings that--
(i) the Department of Transportation
administers several funding programs, some of
which apply models and approaches that
typically emphasize peak-period commuting and
freight movement, rather than temporary or
seasonal visitation; and
(ii) while travel and tourism trips may
benefit from investments under the programs
described in clause (i), areas with small
resident populations but significant tourism
traffic may not receive funding that
corresponds to applicable demands on
transportation infrastructure; and
(E) includes strategies to improve intermodal
connectivity, such as--
(i) developing guidance and best practices
to help States and metropolitan planning
organizations to address the new travel and
tourism planning factor;
(ii) modernizing data collection and
modeling and forecasting approaches for long-
distance trips;
(iii) assessing the means by which formula
and discretionary funding programs of the
Department of Transportation could benefit
travel and tourism projects; and
(iv) communicating key travel and tourism
facilities and corridors;
(3) 83 percent of all travel- and tourism-dependent
businesses are small businesses;
(4) the economic benefits of travel depend on the condition
and performance of the national transportation network; and
(5) as of the date of enactment of this Act, aging
infrastructure, increased demand and congestion, poor or no
multimodal connectivity, and a multitude of other challenges
are--
(A) impairing travel mobility in the United States;
and
(B) causing strain on the ability to sustain and
grow the travel and tourism industry in the United
States.
SEC. 3. NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT FREIGHT, HIGHWAY, AND TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS.
(a) In General.--Section 117 of title 23, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``freight and
highway'' and inserting ``freight, highway, and
transportation'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``freight and
highway'' and inserting ``freight, highway, and
transportation''; and
(B) in paragraph (2)(D), by striking ``freight'';
(3) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
(i) in clause (iii)(II), by striking ``or''
at the end;
(ii) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' at
the end and inserting ``or''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(v) a surface transportation project
eligible for Federal assistance under this
title, if the Secretary determines that the
project is--
``(I) functionally connected to,
and increases the efficiency of, the
National Highway Freight Network; or
``(II) carried out in accordance
with the National Travel and Tourism
Infrastructure Strategic Plan under
section 1431(e) of Public Law 114-94
(49 U.S.C. 301 note); and'';
(B) by striking paragraph (2);
(C) by striking the subsection designation and
heading and all that follows through ``Except as'' in
the matter preceding subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1)
and inserting the following:
``(d) Eligible Projects.--Except as'';
(D) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as
paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively, and indenting the
paragraphs appropriately;
(E) in paragraph (1) (as so redesignated)--
(i) by redesignating clauses (i) through
(v) (as added by subparagraph (A)(iii)) as
subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively,
and indenting the subparagraphs appropriately;
and
(ii) in each of subparagraphs (B), (C), and
(E) (as so redesignated), by redesignating
subclauses (I) and (II) as clauses (i) and
(ii), respectively, and indenting the clauses
appropriately; and
(F) in paragraph (2) (as so redesignated)--
(i) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii)
as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and
indenting the subparagraphs appropriately; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B) (as so
redesignated), by redesignating subclauses (I)
and (II) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively,
and indenting the clauses appropriately;
(4) in subsection (e)(1)--
(A) by striking ``subsection (d)(1)(A)'' and
inserting ``subsection (d)(1)''; and
(B) by striking ``subsection (d)(1)(B)'' and
inserting ``subsection (d)(2)'';
(5) by redesignating subsections (i) through (n) as
subsections (j) through (o), respectively;
(6) by inserting after subsection (h) the following:
``(i) Multistate Corridor Planning, Operations, and Management.--
``(1) Definition of multistate corridor organization.--In
this subsection, the term `multistate corridor organization'
means an organization--
``(A) that is--
``(i) comprised of--
``(I) States; and
``(II) applicable metropolitan
planning organizations; and
``(ii) developed through cooperative
agreements, coalitions, or other arrangements;
and
``(B) the purpose of which is to promote regional
cooperation, planning, and shared project
implementation for programs and projects to improve
transportation system management and operations for a
shared transportation corridor.
``(2) Reservation.--The Secretary shall reserve not less
than 10 percent of the amounts made available under this
section for each fiscal year to make grants to multistate
corridor organizations to promote regional cooperation and the
planning of projects and activities to improve multimodal
transportation system operations and management in critical
transportation corridors.
``(3) Use of funds.--Funds reserved under paragraph (2) may
be used--
``(A) to support--
``(i) multistate coordination for planning,
development, and construction of major
multimodal capital projects; and
``(ii) development of information
technology and operations that improve the
intermodal movement of freight and passengers;
``(B) to enhance coordination and implementation of
interagency efforts in response to incidents; and
``(C) to develop a corridor-wide, multimodal
traveler information system that provides agencies and
travelers with accurate and timely information
regarding incidents, congestion, and construction
activity.
``(4) Considerations.--In making grants under this
subsection, the Secretary shall--
``(A) give priority to projects located in
corridors that--
``(i) are part of the Interstate System; or
``(ii) will be designated as part of the
Interstate System after completion of the work
described in an application received by the
Secretary; and
``(B) take into consideration--
``(i) the extent to which--
``(I) a corridor provides a link
between 2 existing segments of the
Interstate System;
``(II) a project will facilitate
regional mobility, accessibility, and
economic growth and development in
areas underserved by existing highway
infrastructure;
``(III) international truck-borne
commodities move through a corridor;
and
``(IV) a project will make
improvements to an existing segment of
the Interstate System that will result
in a decrease in congestion;
``(ii) the reduction in commercial and
other travel time through a major freight
corridor expected as a result of a project; and
``(iii) the value of the cargo carried by
commercial vehicle traffic in a corridor and
the economic costs arising from congestion in
the corridor.''; and
(7) in paragraph (1)(B) of subsection (n) (as so
redesignated), by striking ``subsection (d)(1)(A)(iii)'' and
inserting ``subsection (d)(1)(C)''.
(b) Technical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23,
United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section
117 and inserting the following:
``Sec. 117. Nationally significant freight, highway, and
transportation projects.''.
SEC. 4. FEDERAL SHARE PAYABLE.
Section 120(c) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(4) Local or regional economic generator.--At the
discretion of the applicable State, the Federal share payable
on account of a project, program, or activity carried out with
funds apportioned under section 104(b) may be up to 100
percent, if the Secretary determines that the project, program,
or activity--
``(A) results in significant local or economic
growth, including increased travel and tourism;
``(B) is--
``(i) included in the long-range
transportation plan of the State under section
135; and
``(ii) recommended by the State travel and
tourism advisory committee established under
section 303(a) as a project, program, or
activity of significance to local or regional
economic development; or
``(C) would help achieve the goals of the National
Travel and Tourism Infrastructure Strategic Plan under
section 1431(e) of Public Law 114-94 (49 U.S.C. 301
note).''.
SEC. 5. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.
Section 133(b) of title 23, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(16) Projects and programs to enhance travel and tourism
and mitigate impacts on communities, including infrastructure
improvements, intelligent transportation systems and signage,
and strategies to support increased seasonal travel,
accommodate future growth along major corridors for long-haul
travel, improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of
long-haul travel, and enhance connectivity between and among
modes of transportation and major destinations.''.
SEC. 6. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.
(a) Title 23 Amendments.--
(1) Metropolitan.--Section 134(i)(2) of title 23, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(I) Travel and tourism strategies.--Capital
investment and other strategies to enhance travel and
tourism and mitigate impacts on communities, including
infrastructure improvements and strategies to support
increased seasonal travel, accommodate future growth
along major corridors for long-haul travel, improve the
safety, efficiency, and reliability of long-haul
travel, and enhance connectivity between and among
modes of transportation and major destinations.''.
(2) Statewide and nonmetropolitan.--Section 135 of title
23, United States Code, is amended--
(A) in subsection (f)(3)(A)(ii), by inserting
``representatives of the travel and tourism industry,''
after ``services,''; and
(B) in subsection (g)(3), by striking
``operators),, providers of freight transportation
services,'' and inserting ``operators), providers of
freight transportation services, representatives of the
travel and tourism industry,''.
(b) Title 49 Amendments.--
(1) Scope of planning process.--Section 5303(h)(1) of title
49, United States Code, is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at
the end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(J) support travel and tourism, including
interregional planning to address capacity, congestion,
and multimodal options for travelers.''.
(2) Transportation plan.--Section 5303(i)(2) of title 49,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(I) Travel and tourism strategies.--Capital
investment and other strategies to enhance travel and
tourism and mitigate impacts on communities, including
infrastructure improvements and strategies to support
increased seasonal travel, accommodate future growth
along major corridors for long-haul travel, improve the
safety, efficiency, and reliability of long-haul
travel, and enhance connectivity between and among
modes of transportation and major destinations.''.
(3) Statewide and nonmetropolitan.--Section 5304 of title
49, United States Code, is amended--
(A) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking the quotation marks before
``In'';
(B) in subsection (f)(3)(A)(ii), by inserting
``representatives of the travel and tourism industry,''
after ``services,'';
(C) in subsection (g)(3), by inserting
``representatives of the travel and tourism industry,''
after ``services,''; and
(D) in subsection (i), by striking ``this this''
and inserting ``this''.
SEC. 7. CONGESTION MITIGATION AND AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
Section 149(b) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (8)(B), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(10) if the project or program mitigates seasonal or
temporary congestion from long-haul travel or tourism.''.
SEC. 8. NATIONAL GOALS.
Section 150(b) of title 23, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as paragraphs
(7) and (8), respectively; and
(2) by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following:
``(5) Freight movement.--To improve the National Highway
Freight Network and strengthen the ability of rural communities
to access national and international trade markets.
``(6) Economic vitality.--To support local and regional
economic development and increased tourism, recreational, and
business travel.''.
SEC. 9. NATIONAL TRAVEL MOBILITY PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Chapter 1 of title 23, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 154 the following:
``Sec. 155. National Travel Mobility Program
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Eligible project.--The term `eligible project' means
any project described in section 133(b).
``(2) Long-haul travel.--The term `long-haul travel' means
a trip consisting of not less than 50 miles from the point of
origin to the point of destination.
``(3) Nonlocal visitor.--The term `nonlocal visitor', with
respect to a State, means an individual who--
``(A) does not permanently reside in the State; and
``(B) engages in long-haul travel in the State
(including long-haul travel any portion of which occurs
within the State) for a period that includes at least 1
overnight stay in the State.
``(4) Program.--The term `program' means the National
Travel Mobility Program established under subsection (b).
``(b) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program,
to be known as the `National Travel Mobility Program', under
which the Secretary shall distribute funds to States in
accordance with subsection (c) to carry out eligible projects
that, as determined by the Secretary--
``(A) alleviate congestion, improve reliability of
travel time, and accommodate future growth along major
corridors for long-haul travel;
``(B) improve the safety and efficiency of long-
haul travel;
``(C) enhance connectivity between and among--
``(i) modes of transportation; and
``(ii) major destinations; and
``(D) achieve the goals of the National Travel and
Tourism Infrastructure Strategic Plan under section
1431(e) of Public Law 114-94 (49 U.S.C. 301 note).
``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the program shall be to
develop long-term plans and capital improvements that ensure
the efficient movement of people on the national transportation
network.
``(c) Distribution.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary
shall distribute to each State for each fiscal year an amount equal to
the sum of--
``(1) the product obtained by multiplying--
``(A) the number of nonlocal visitors to the State
during fiscal year 2019; and
``(B) $1.50; and
``(2) the product obtained by multiplying--
``(A) the number of residents of the State engaging
in long-haul travel within the State during fiscal year
2019; and
``(B) $0.50.
``(d) Use of Funds.--
``(1) In general.--A State shall use assistance received
under the program--
``(A) to carry out 1 or more eligible projects in
the State; or
``(B) to conduct long-term planning activities
relating to enhancing national and regional travel
mobility, in accordance with paragraph (2).
``(2) Long-term planning.--In conducting long-term planning
activities under the program, a State (or a metropolitan
planning organization on behalf of a State) shall--
``(A) act in accordance with any applicable
requirements of a transportation improvement program
under sections 134 and 135; and
``(B) identify projects and strategies to
facilitate travel and tourism.
``(3) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of an
eligible project shall be--
``(A) for an eligible project conducted on a unit
of the National Park System or other Federal land, 100
percent of the total cost of the eligible project; and
``(B) for an eligible project conducted on land not
described in subparagraph (A), 80 percent of the total
cost of the eligible project.
``(e) National Multimodal Travel Infrastructure Network.--The
Secretary shall use amounts made available to carry out the program to
establish a network, to be known as the `National Multimodal Travel
Infrastructure Network', to identify surface transportation assets
(including assets of the National Highway System, rail assets, transit
systems, assets to provide access to Federal land, National Parks, and
Scenic Byways) that are critical to facilitating the majority of long-
haul travel to and within the United States.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary out of the Highway Trust Fund (other than
the Mass Transit Account) $1,200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022
through 2026 to carry out the program, to be available for obligation,
and subject to limitations, in the same manner as other projects on
Federal-aid highways under this chapter.''.
(b) Technical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 1 of title 23,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 154 the following:
``Sec. 155. National Travel Mobility Program.''.
SEC. 10. STATE TRAVEL AND TOURISM ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
(a) In General.--Chapter 3 of title 23, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 302 the following:
``Sec. 303. State travel and tourism advisory committees
``(a) Establishment.--As a condition of receiving a grant under
this chapter, a State shall establish or maintain a travel and tourism
advisory committee, consisting of a balanced cross-section of public
and private travel and tourism stakeholders representing all
transportation modes, including--
``(1) travel and tourism industry product and service
providers;
``(2) travel- and tourism-related associations;
``(3) destination marketing organizations;
``(4) State tourism offices; and
``(5) the travel- and tourism-related workforce.
``(b) Qualifications.--Each member of a State travel and tourism
advisory committee shall have qualifications sufficient to represent
the interests of the stakeholder group represented by the member, such
as experience or qualifications relating to--
``(1) general business and finance;
``(2) travel and tourism;
``(3) tourism planning, safety, or workforce issues;
``(4) representing employees of the travel and tourism
industry; or
``(5) representing units of State or local government or
metropolitan planning organizations in transportation-related
issues.
``(c) Duties.--Each State travel and tourism advisory committee
established under subsection (a) shall--
``(1) advise the State with respect to travel- and tourism-
related priorities, issues, projects, and funding needs;
``(2) serve as a forum for discussion for State
transportation decisions affecting travel and tourism;
``(3) communicate and coordinate with other travel- and
tourism-related organizations relating to regional priorities;
``(4) promote the sharing of information between the
private and public sectors regarding travel and tourism issues;
``(5) participate in the development of the statewide
transportation improvement program and long-range statewide
transportation plan under section 135; and
``(6) not less frequently than annually, submit to the
Members of Congress of the State a report that describes the
travel- and tourism-related issues and needs of the State,
including recommendations to address those issues and needs, if
any.''.
(b) Technical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 3 of title 23,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 302 the following:
``Sec. 303. State travel and tourism advisory committees.''.
SEC. 11. OFFICE OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM.
Section 102 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by striking
``(h) The Department'' and inserting the following:
``(h) Office of Travel and Tourism.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established in the Office of
the Secretary of Transportation a separate office, to be known
as the `Office of Travel and Tourism' (referred to in this
subsection as the `Office').
``(2) Duties.--The duties of the Office shall be--
``(A) to plan, coordinate, and implement Department
of Transportation-wide research, strategies, and
actions to enhance travel and tourism;
``(B) to serve as the primary point of contact for
the Department with respect to domestic travel and
tourism issues, including funding for the improvement
of travel and tourism infrastructure;
``(C) to carry out the recommendations in the
National Travel and Tourism Infrastructure Strategic
Plan under section 1431(e) of Public Law 114-94 (49
U.S.C. 301 note);
``(D) to update, not less frequently than once
every 4 years, the plan referred to in subparagraph
(C);
``(E) to facilitate communication among government,
public, and private travel and tourism stakeholders;
and
``(F) to carry out such other duties as the
Secretary of Transportation may require.
``(i) Departmental Seal.--The Department of Transportation''.
SEC. 12. CONSOLIDATED RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE AND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS.
Section 22907 of title 49, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (8) through (12) as
paragraphs (9) through (13), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
``(8) A capital project to increase access to a travel or
tourist destination.''; and
(2) in subsection (e)(3)--
(A) by striking ``demand, and any other'' and
inserting the following: ``demand; and
``(E) any other''; and
(B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (E) (as so
designated), by striking ``may include the effects''
and inserting the following: ``may include--
``(A) local and regional economic development;
``(B) increased travel and tourism;
``(C) increased mobility between modes;
``(D) the effects''.
SEC. 13. MULTIMODAL GRANT SELECTION REQUIREMENT.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including regulations),
in each notice of funding opportunity for the National Infrastructure
Investment program of the Department of Transportation, the Secretary
of Transportation shall select among eligible projects by evaluating
the extent to which each eligible project provides significant benefits
to a State, a metropolitan area, a region, or the United States,
including the extent to which the eligible project--
(1) improves the safety of transportation facilities and
systems;
(2) improves the condition of existing transportation
facilities and systems;
(3) contributes to economic competitiveness over the
medium- to long-term, including by increasing travel and
tourism; and
(4) improves access to and between transportation
facilities and systems.
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