February 25, 2025
Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Mr. Schatz) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
To improve the cooperation between the United States and the authorities of Taiwan with respect to travel and tourism.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Taiwan Travel and Tourism Coordination Act
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees
The term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A)
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate;
(B)
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;
(C)
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;
(D)
the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives;
(E)
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; and
(F)
the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives.
(2) Assistant secretary
The term Assistant Secretary means the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism.
Sec. 3. Tourism cooperation with Taiwan
(a) In general
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of State, shall seek to engage the authorities of Taiwan with respect to expanding cooperation between the United States and such authorities on travel and tourism.
(b) Cooperation efforts
(1) In general
In seeking to expand cooperation under subsection (a), the Assistant Secretary, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) and applicable export regulations, shall carry out efforts to identify and pursue opportunities for—
(A)
enhancing travel between the United States and Taiwan; and
(B)
strengthening the tourism industries of both the United States and Taiwan in areas of mutual benefit to the United States and the authorities of Taiwan, including by—
(i)
facilitating events and coordination between travel and tourism industry partners, the United States, and the authorities of Taiwan, including hotel accommodations, restaurant or foodservice, the small business or retail sector, travel distribution services, the attractions and recreation sector (including outdoor recreation) city convention and visitors' bureaus, State tourism offices, the commercial and private passenger air travel sector, and the land and sea passenger transportation sector, and other industry partners, as determined by the Assistant Secretary;
(ii)
advising on the preservation and incentivization of travel to interact with cultural heritage, artifacts, and landmarks;
(iii)
coordinating on the safety and security of international visitors; and
(iv)
conducting activities of mutual benefit relating to travel and tourism.
(2) Protection of sensitive and proprietary information and economic interests of the united states
In carrying out the efforts and activities described in paragraph (1), the Assistant Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of State shall take all appropriate measures to protect sensitive information, intellectual property, trade secrets, and the economic interests of the United States.
(c) Report
(1) Requirement
Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the subsequent five years, the Assistant Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of State shall jointly submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes the implementation of this section.
(2) Elements
Each report required under paragraph (1) shall include—
(A)
a description of the cooperation efforts and activities carried out pursuant to subsection (b)(1);
(B)
the identification of any challenge or resource gap that needs to be addressed to expand cooperation between the United States and the authorities of Taiwan with respect to travel and tourism; and
(C)
any other matter the Assistant Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary of State considers relevant.
Sec. 4. Report on preclearance facilities in Taiwan
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of State, shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that—
(1)
analyzes the feasibility of, and the advisability for, the establishment of a preclearance facility in Taiwan;
(2)
describes the plan for the establishment of a preclearance facility in Taiwan or in other locations in the Indo-Pacific region;
(3)
assesses the impacts that preclearance operations in Taiwan will have on—
(A)
trade between the United States and Taiwan, including the impact on established supply chains;
(B)
the tourism industry in the United States, including the potential impact on revenue and tourist-related commerce;
(C)
United States and foreign passengers traveling to the United States for business-related activities;
(D)
cost savings and potential market access from expanding operations into the Indo-Pacific region;
(E)
opportunities for government-to-government collaboration available in Taiwan after preclearance operations are established;
(F)
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol international and domestic port of entry staffing; and
(G)
the foreign policy objectives of the United States in preserving and promoting extensive, close, and friendly commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the United States and the people on Taiwan; and
(4)
includes specific information on the anticipated homeland security benefits and the security vulnerabilities associated with conducting preclearance operations in Taiwan.