This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news concerning hotels, restaurants, casinos, gaming operations, event and sports venues, cruise lines, theme parks, ski resorts, outdoor spaces, RV and caravan parks, and all hospitality, travel and tourism professionals. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Want to track GR news in adjacent industries related? Don’t miss this week’s updates in Arts & Culture. Also consider subscribing to our Hospitality & Retail - Ottawa edition covering critical GR news north of the border.

Dates: 2026-02-15 to 2026-02-21

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Congressional Calendar
• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Hearing: The House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections will hold a hearing titled 'Balancing Careers and Care: Examining Innovative Approaches to Paid Leave' on February 24, 2026, at 15:15 ET in Rayburn House Office Building, room 2175.
• House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Markup Session: The House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity is scheduled for a markup on February 24, 2026, at 19:30 ET in Cannon House Office Building, room 360, covering bills including the CRUISE Act and others pertaining to veteran employment, education, and housing.
• House Small Business Committee Hearing on Career and Technical Education: The House Small Business Committee will conduct a hearing called 'Career and Technical Education: Developing the Future of Main Street Success' on February 24, 2026, at 15:00 ET.

Federal Government News

FDA Proposes Extension of HACCP Recordkeeping for Juice Imports and Processing

The Food and Drug Administration is requesting public comment concerning the extension of information collection related to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) procedures for fruit and vegetable juices, as outlined in 21 CFR Part 120. Entities engaged in processing or importing juice are required to maintain documentation on monitoring, corrective actions, and validation activities to comply with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The annual industry-wide recordkeeping burden is estimated at 461,426 hours due to various requirements, including sanitation monitoring, hazard analysis, calibration, and plan revalidation. Importers must also keep written procedures verifying compliance. The comment deadline is April 21, 2026, and submissions can be made electronically or in writing. The FDA has indicated guidance and resources are available for affected processors and importers.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FDA Draft Guidance on Additional Food Traceability Records Now Available for Comment

The Food and Drug Administration has released a draft guidance document titled 'Questions and Answers About Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods.' This document addresses the final rule issued under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), requiring enhanced recordkeeping for facilities dealing with items found on the Food Traceability List. Covered topics include operations such as farming, fishing, commingling, food transformation, and traceability plans. The purpose is to facilitate more rapid identification and removal of contaminated foods and reduce foodborne illness. The guidance is not binding, allowing for alternative approaches if statutory requirements are met. Industry stakeholders may submit comments by May 21, 2026, either through regulations.gov or by mail. The draft guidance is accessible online.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

FDA Requests Extension for Quick Turnaround Communication Effectiveness Testing

The Food and Drug Administration has submitted a request to OMB to continue its generic information collection clearance for quick turnaround surveys and focus groups on communication effectiveness, particularly for urgent public health matters such as food recalls or outbreaks. The extension covers low-burden voluntary collections, primarily targeting producers and manufacturers of FDA-regulated food and related products. Annual estimates include a total reporting burden of 1,833.5 hours distributed among surveys, interviews, and focus group sessions. The FDA uses responses to measure public and stakeholder awareness of advisories and crisis communications, as seen in previous recall events. Participation is voluntary and is not used for major policy determinations. Written comments are due March 20, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

SBA Seeks OMB Approval for New Data Collection on Innovation Clusters

The Small Business Administration is requesting OMB approval for a new information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act targeting its Regional Innovation Cluster (RIC) Program. RIC administrators will annually submit Excel-based data detailing cluster membership, types of assistance, and outcomes. The goal is to standardize metrics for monitoring program support and reviewing results. Approximately 80 responses are expected each year, with a total burden estimated at 400 hours. SBA invites public comment on the necessity, accuracy, and burden minimization of the collection, with a submission deadline of March 20, 2026. Documentation is available via www.reginfo.gov, and direct inquiries can be made to the federal contact listed.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

White House Lunar New Year Message Recognizes Celebration and Community Traditions

The President issued a message for Lunar New Year, acknowledging cultural traditions of fireworks, feasts, and community gatherings. The remarks cite the contributions of Asian Americans to the U.S. and draw a symbolic connection between the traits of the Year of the Horse and 250 years of American independence. The message concludes with wishes for health and prosperity during the new year.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Legislative Updates

Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act of 2026

House Bill 1028, titled 'Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act of 2026,' has been placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 423. The bill addresses policies affecting women in the sports and recreation sector, with future legislative activity anticipated.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Modern Worker Empowerment Act

House Bill 1319, the 'Modern Worker Empowerment Act,' is entered on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 431. It contains provisions impacting labor and employment, with implications for workforce management and employment standards in hospitality and recreational services.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Why the United States Is Seeing an Ongoing Tourism Slump: U.S. inbound tourism continues its decline, affecting travel, hospitality, and related service industries.
• Las Vegas sees sharp visitor drop as leisure spending wanes: Visitor numbers in Las Vegas fall sharply alongside reduced consumer spending on leisure activities.
• Soufflet Malt bets on India's growing beer market with new facility: Soufflet Malt invests in beer expansion with a new production facility targeting India's consumer market.
• Kentucky Derby Operator Accused of Regulatory ‘Freeloading’: Churchill Downs faces allegations of sidestepping regulatory fees tied to horse racing oversight.
• Cruise operator Carnival to unify dual listing: Carnival Corporation announces plans to combine its dual stock listing, streamlining corporate structure.
• United overhauls loyalty program benefits to boost co-branded credit card adoption: United Airlines updates loyalty program benefits to encourage use of co-branded credit cards.
• Frontier bets on budget travelers as other airlines focus on premium market: Frontier Airlines targets budget travelers while competitors adjust offerings toward premium segments.

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