Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening travel and tourism ties between the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as concerns grow over a projected decline in international visitors to the U.S.

The proposal, titled the USMCA Travel and Tourism Resiliency Act, seeks to create a Travel and Tourism Trade Working Group within the framework of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). While the trade pact currently includes working groups for several industries, tourism and travel are not formally represented.

The initiative comes at a critical moment for the U.S. travel sector. In 2024, U.S. travel and tourism exports were valued at $1.3 trillion and supported more than 15 million American jobs. However, according to the New York Times, the United States is expected to receive 4.5 million fewer international visitors in 2025 compared with 2024, including a 26% drop in Canadian travelers.

“Travel and tourism are vital not only to Nevada’s economy, but to the economy of the United States as a whole,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “As we’ve seen over the past year, tariffs, trade, and international cooperation play a large role in either promoting or deterring international travel. As partners in this historic trade agreement, it’s critical that we do what we can to invite Canada and Mexico to support the American travel industry.”

Senator Moran, co-chair of the Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus, подчеркó (emphasized) the broader national impact of the sector. “Travel and tourism are essential to America’s economy, supporting millions of jobs and connecting communities in Kansas and across the country,” he said. “I look forward to working with the U.S. Trade Representative to make certain USMCA supports efforts to bolster cross-border travel, reduce unnecessary travel barriers, and strengthen the U.S. travel economy.”

Under the bill, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) would be required to advocate for the establishment of the new working group during the upcoming joint review of the USMCA. The agreement, which entered into force in 2020, is scheduled for periodic reviews, providing an opportunity to expand cooperation in sectors not previously included.

The U.S. Travel Association welcomed the initiative, calling it a timely response to the current downturn in international visitation. “Travel is America’s top services export and a critical engine for jobs and economic growth in every state,” said Erik Hansen, Senior Vice President and Head of Government Relations at the association. “This bipartisan legislation would ensure travel and tourism are prioritized in the upcoming USMCA joint review, deepen cooperation with Canada and Mexico, strengthen North America’s competitiveness, and support the millions of American workers and businesses that rely on travel.”

Cortez Masto has been a vocal advocate for Nevada’s tourism-driven economy, repeatedly urging the federal government to assess the impact of recent trade and policy decisions on travel demand. Throughout 2025, she has called on the administration to provide economic analysis on declining tourism and to adopt measures aimed at reversing the trend, warning that reduced international visitation could have lasting consequences for employment and growth across the country.

With Canada and Mexico remaining the United States’ two largest trading partners—and key source markets for inbound travel—supporters of the bill argue that formalizing tourism cooperation under the USMCA is essential to restoring confidence, boosting cross-border travel, and keeping the U.S. competitive in the global tourism market.