February 5, 2026
Ms. Cortez Masto (for herself and Mr. Moran) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
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.