March 25, 2025
Mr. Schatz (for himself and Mrs. Blackburn) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
To promote exports by creative industries and occupations, 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 Cultural Trade Promotion Act
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Creative industry or occupation
The term creative industry or occupation means—
(A)
an industry that—
(i)
has a substantial current or potential impact (including through positions that lead to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) on a State, regional, or local economy or a Native American community's economy, as appropriate; and
(ii)
contributes to the growth of businesses, nonprofit organizations, or self-employment opportunities that have their origin in individual creativity, skill, and talent, including such businesses, organizations, or opportunities focused on design, crafts, music, visual and media arts, performing arts, language, literature, or expressions of Native cultures or regional or local heritage culture; and
(B)
an occupation that—
(i)
currently has or is projected to have a number of positions (including positions that lead to economic self-sufficiency and opportunities for advancement) in an industry sector so as to have a substantial potential impact on a State, regional, or local economy or a Native American community's economy, as appropriate; and
(ii)
is comprised of—
(I)
businesses or nonprofit organizations described in subparagraph (A)(ii); or
(II)
individuals who are self-employed or sole proprietors and whose work has an origin in individual creativity, skill, and talent, including a focus on design, crafts, music, visual arts, media arts, performing arts, language, literature, or expressions of Native cultures or regional or local heritage culture.
(2) Native American
The term Native American, used with respect to culture, means the culture of a Native American, as defined in section 103 of the Native American Languages Act (25 U.S.C. 2902).
Sec. 3. Promotion of exports from microenterprises and creative industries and occupations
(a) Promotion of exports by United States and Foreign Commercial Service
Section 2301(b) of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4721(b)) is amended, in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking small businesses and medium-sized businesses
and inserting microentrepreneurs (as defined in section 172 of the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs Act of 1999 (15 U.S.C. 6901)), small businesses, and medium-sized businesses
.
(b) Strategic plan of Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee
Section 2312(c) of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4727(c)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (6), by striking ; and
and inserting a semicolon;
(2)
in paragraph (7)—
(A)
by inserting microenterprises (as defined in section 172 of the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs Act of 1999 (15 U.S.C. 6901)) and
after better assist
; and
(B)
by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
(3)
by adding at the end the following:
(8)
consider how to promote exports of goods and services from creative industries and occupations (as defined in section 2 of the Cultural Trade Promotion Act).
(c) Promotion of exports of Native Hawaiian arts and crafts and exports from Native Hawaiian owned-Businesses
Section 2307 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4726) is amended—
(1)
by inserting or Native Hawaiian
after American Indian
each place it appears;
(2)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
by inserting or Native Hawaiian
after include Indian
; and
(B)
by inserting or Native Hawaiian-owned
after Indian-owned
; and
(3)
in subsection (e), by striking hand made or hand crafted
and inserting made
.
Sec. 4. Collaboration to improve access to reliable international shipping services
The Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service appointed under section 2301(a)(2) of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4721(a)(2)), and the Postmaster General shall consult and collaborate with respect to how to better connect microenterprises (as defined in section 172 of the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs Act of 1999 (15 U.S.C. 6901)) and small businesses to fast, reliable international shipping services that meet the expectations of the modern consumer.
Sec. 5. Focus on creative industries and occupations by Trade and Development Agency
Section 661(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2421(a)) is amended in the second sentence by striking and environment
and inserting environment, and creative industries and occupations (as defined in section 2 of the Cultural Trade Promotion Act)
.
Sec. 6. Travel and tourism advisory board
Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including any regulation), the Secretary of Commerce shall appoint to serve as a permanent member of the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board established pursuant to section 3 of the Act of February 14, 1903 (15 U.S.C. 1512; 32 Stat. 826, chapter 552), and chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, a representative of creative industries and occupations.