BISMARCK – U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the bipartisan Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act, legislation to provide comprehensive relief and recovery measures for the convention, trade show, entertainment, travel and hospitality industries and their workers. This bill would stimulate the economy by creating new recovery incentives for hospitality and trade shows, enhance the employee retention tax credit to help maintain worker connections to their employer, and provide recovery incentives for middle class families to jumpstart travel when safe.

“While the economy is on its way to recovery, several businesses and workers are still hurting and in need of assistance,” said Senator Cramer. “Our bill injects help into some of the hardest hit industries and encourages them to hire and retain employees.”

“The coronavirus pandemic has devastated economies and industries across the country, and Nevada’s hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors have been especially hard hit. These industries are the economic engine of our state and our communities, and the incredible challenges they are now facing due to COVID-19 demand our attention—and action—in Congress,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This bipartisan bill, which I am proud to introduce, will give these industries the support and incentives they desperately need to recover and thrive as the Silver State continues efforts to safely and responsibly re-open.”

The Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act has been endorsed by the North Dakota Department of Commerce Tourism and Marketing Division as well as the U.S. Travel Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Click here to learn more and here for full text of the bill.

Background:

  • The travel economy has shrunk by $402 billion since March and travel spending has declined by 45% since last year.
  • Even with more rooms gradually opening and increased traffic on weekends, Las Vegas has seen a decline in visitor volume of -57% from August of last year. Visitation to North Dakota since the pandemic -38%, a loss of $922 million in visitor spending.
  • No industry has lost more jobs during this pandemic than leisure and hospitality. Employment in travel and tourism has fallen by 23.9% across the nation this year.
  • Closure of the Canadian border resulted in loss of 400,000 trips to North Dakota this year.
  • The decline in travel spending has cost federal, state, and local tax revenues over $52.1 billion since March 1.