15 U.S.C. § 9802 — Purposes

Page 2620 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 9711 1 See References in Text note below. ronmental systems over time that the Admin- istrator determines qualify as environmental challenges other than extreme weather. (b) Identification and support of consistent, Fed- eral set of forward-looking, long-term mete- orological information The Administrator shall identify, and support research that enables, a consistent, Federal set of forward-looking, long-term meteorological in- formation that models future extreme weather events, other environmental trends, projections, and up-to-date observations, including mesoscale information as determined appro- priate by the Administrator. (Pub. L. 117–316, § 15, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4417.) § 9711. Gap analysis on availability of snow-re- lated data to assess and predict flood and flood impacts (a) In general The Administrator, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, and the Army Corps of Engineers, shall conduct an analysis of gaps in the avail- ability of snow-related data to assess and pre- dict floods and flood impacts, including data on the following: (1) Snow water equivalent. (2) Snow depth. (3) Snowpack temperature. (4) Snow and mixed-phase precipitation. (5) Snow melt. (6) Rain-snow line. (b) Report Not later than 180 days after December 27, 2022, the Administrator shall submit to the Com- mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- tation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on— (1) the findings of the gap analysis required by subsection (a); and (2) opportunities for additional collaboration among Federal agencies to collect snow-re- lated data to better assess and predict floods and flood impacts. (Pub. L. 117–316, § 16, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4417.) § 9712. Availability to the public of flood-related data (a) In general The Administrator shall make flood-related data available to the public on the website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- tration. (b) Cost The Administrator may make the data under subsection (a) freely accessible or available at a cost that does not exceed the cost of preparing the data. (Pub. L. 117–316, § 17, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4418.) CHAPTER 122—TRAVEL AND TOURISM Sec. 9801. Defined term. 9802. Purposes. Sec. 9803. Responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism. 9804. Travel and tourism strategy. 9805. Data on domestic travel and tourism. § 9801. Defined term In this title,1 the term ‘‘COVID–19 public health emergency’’— (1) means the public health emergency first declared on January 31, 2020, by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 247d of title 42 with respect to COVID–19; and (2) includes any renewal of such declaration pursuant to such section 247d of title 42. (Pub. L. 117–328, div. BB, title VI, § 600, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5566.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT This title, referred to in text, is title VI of div. BB of Pub. L. 117–328, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5566. Section 600 and subtitle A (§§ 601–609) of title VI enacted this chap- ter, amended section 1546 of this title, enacted provi- sions set out as notes under this section and section 9802 of this title, amended provisions set out as a note under section 2171 of Title 19, Customs Duties, and amended Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1979, set out in the Ap- pendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Em- ployees. Subtitle B (§ 611) of title VI is not classified to the Code. For complete classification of title VI to the Code, see Tables. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE OF 2022 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 117–328, div. BB, title VI, § 601, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5566, provided that: ‘‘This subtitle [subtitle A (§§ 601–609) of title VI of div. BB of Pub. L. 117–328, en- acting sections 9802 to 9805 of this title, amending sec- tion 1546 of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and section 9802 of this title, amending provisions set out as notes under section 2171 of Title 19, Customs Duties, and amended Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1979, set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Govern- ment Organization and Employees] may be cited as the ‘Visit America Act’.’’ COMPLETION OF PROCEEDING Pub. L. 117–328, div. BB, title VI, § 609, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5570, provided that: ‘‘If the Secretary of Com- merce, before the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 29, 2022], has taken any action that, in whole or in part, implements this title [see References in Text note above] or the amendments made by this title, the Secretary is not required to revisit such action to the extent such action is consistent with this title and the amendments made by this title.’’ § 9802. Purposes The purposes of this subtitle are— (1) to support the travel and tourism indus- try, which produces economic impacts that are vital to our national economy; and (2) to establish national goals for inter- national visitors to the United States, includ- ing— (A) recommendations for achieving such goals and timelines for implementing such recommendations; (B) coordination between Federal and State agencies; Page 2621 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 9803 (C) the resources needed by each Govern- ment agency to achieve such goals; and (D) the number of international visitors and the value of national travel exports. (Pub. L. 117–328, div. BB, title VI, § 602, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5566.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT This subtitle, referred to in text, is subtitle A (§§ 601–609) of title VI of div. BB of Pub. L. 117–328, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5566, which enacted sections 9802 to 9805 of this title, amended section 1546 of this title, en- acted provisions set out as notes under this section and section 9801 of this title, and amended provisions set out as a note under section 2171 of Title 19, Customs Duties. For complete classification of this title to the Code, see Short Title of 2022 Amendment note set out under section 9801 of this title and Tables. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SENSE OF CONGRESS Pub. L. 117–328, div. BB, title VI, § 603, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5566, provided that: ‘‘It is the sense of Con- gress that— ‘‘(1) setting a national goal for the number of inter- national visitors to the United States is vital for aligning Federal tourism policy to support American jobs and economic growth; ‘‘(2) setting a national goal for travel exports is vital for aligning Federal tourism policy to support American jobs, increase travel exports, and improve our Nation’s balance of trade; ‘‘(3) the travel industry is an essential part of the United States services exports with respect to busi- ness, education, medical, and leisure travel; ‘‘(4) the promotion of travel and visitation by the Corporation for Travel Promotion (doing business as ‘Brand USA’) is vital to increasing visitation and ar- ticulating the visitation laws of the United States; and ‘‘(5) there is an urgent need for a coordinated travel and tourism industry response and strategy to re- spond to the current state of such industry and future unforeseen circumstances that may impact the travel and tourism industry.’’ § 9803. Responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism (a) Visitation goals The Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Assistant Secretary’’) shall— (1) after consultation with the travel and tourism industry, work with the Travel Pro- motion Committee and the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board to estab- lish an annual goal, consistent with the goals of the travel and tourism strategy developed pursuant to section 9804(1) of this title, for— (A) the number of international visitors to the United States; and (B) the value of travel and tourism com- merce; (2) develop recommendations for achieving the annual goals established pursuant to para- graph (1); (3) ensure that travel and tourism policy is developed in consultation with— (A) the Tourism Policy Council; (B) the Secretary of State; (C) the Secretary of Homeland Security; (D) the Corporation for Travel Promotion; (E) the United States Travel and Tourism Advisory Board; and (F) travel and tourism industry represent- atives, including public and private destina- tion marketing organizations, travel and tourism suppliers, gig economy representa- tives, and labor representatives from these industries; (4) establish short, medium, and long-term timelines for implementing the recommenda- tions developed pursuant to paragraph (2); (5) conduct Federal agency needs assess- ments, in consultation with the Office of Man- agement and Budget and other relevant Fed- eral agencies, to identify the resources, statu- tory or regulatory changes, and private sector engagement needed to achieve the annual visi- tation goals; and (6) provide assessments and recommenda- tions to— (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; (B) the Committee on Energy and Com- merce of the House of Representatives; and (C) the public through a publicly acces- sible website. (b) Domestic travel and tourism The Assistant Secretary, to the extent fea- sible, shall— (1) evaluate, on an ongoing basis, domestic policy options for supporting competitiveness with respect to the strengths, weaknesses, and growth of the domestic travel industry; (2) develop recommendations and goals to support and enhance domestic tourism, sepa- rated by business and leisure; and (3) engage public and private stakeholders to support domestic tourism. (c) Workforce The Assistant Secretary shall— (1) consult with the Secretary of Labor to develop strategies and best practices for im- proving the timeliness and reliability of travel and tourism workforce data; (2) work with the Secretary of Labor and the Bureau of Economic Analysis to improve trav- el and tourism industry data; (3) provide recommendations for policy en- hancements and efficiencies; and (4) provide policy recommendations regard- ing the gig economy as it relates to travel and tourism. (d) Facilitation of international business travel The Assistant Secretary, in coordination with relevant Federal agencies, shall strive to in- crease and facilitate international business travel to the United States and ensure competi- tiveness by— (1) facilitating large meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions in the United States; (2) emphasizing rural and other destinations in the United States that are rich in cultural heritage or ecological tourism, among other uniquely American destinations, as locations for hosting international meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions; and