On September 16, STS will hold its annual Congressional Tourism Summit luncheon in the Congressional Visitors Center of the U.S. Capitol. Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus co-chairs Sam Farr (D-Calif.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) are sponsoring the luncheon. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the federal tourism programs, to educate key policymakers on what supports are needed at the state and local level and to meet with your own Members of Congress. More information on the Congressional Summit is available here.
8:30 am: Legislative Briefing
Morning: Congressional Visits at Capitol Hill
Noon: Luncheon with members of Congress and MOU Federal Interagency team members at the new US Capitol Visitors Center. Speakers: Rep. Sam Farr, (D-Calif.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), co-chairs of the Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus.
1:30 pm: Tentative signing ceremony for the renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between STS and Federal Agencies.
More information.
In June, tourism scored a win but also experienced a legislative setback, all of which signals the industry’s growing ability to educate federal policymakers and move bills and polices to support the health and growth of tourism.
Travel & Tourism Caucus Hits 100One of the STS’s priorities in the 111th Congress has been to amplify tourism's voice in Washington. After the elections, the ranks of the Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus were seriously reduced. A goal was set of helping the Caucus expand its ranks to 100. In June, the Caucus reached that goal when Steve Scalise of Louisiana signed up.
Reaching the membership goal strengthens the Caucus’ legislative muscle, but that’s no reason to let up, the Caucus is essential for information and collaboration on issues impacting tourism. Click here to see a list of the Members of Congress that have joined the Caucus. If your Members are not bolded, please call on them to join.
Senate Fails to Advance Travel Promotion ActOn June 22, a Senate vote to invoke cloture and proceed with debate on the Travel Promotion Act failed on a 53-34 vote (60 votes were needed), effectively defeating the measure. Caught up in larger political issues, the vote was strictly along party lines with two Republican breaking ranks to vote for the measure, Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.).
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid voted against the measure in order to preserve the option of bringing the bill up at a later date. Background on the vote and the lobbying efforts undertaken for the bill are detailed in Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper.
Let us know about your legislative issues and concerns. Please contact Bill Hardman.
