Travel Promotion Bill Will Cut Federal Deficit by $231 Million

Brand USA Reauthorization Scheduled for Tuesday House Vote

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. July 22, 2014

WASHINGTON (July 21, 2014)—The U.S. Travel Association today welcomed analysis from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office showing that H.R. 4450, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014, will, if enacted, reduce the U.S. federal deficit by $231 million over 10 years.

H.R. 4450 reauthorizes Brand USA, the non-profit, public-private partnership dedicated to increasing inbound international travel to the United States. The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the bill on Tuesday.

"Brand USA works for America by attracting millions of new visitors and the dollars they bring to destinations across the country," said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. "What's remarkable is Brand USA does not cost federal taxpayers a dime, and it actually reduces the deficit - all while delivering jobs and economic opportunity to America's communities."

H.R. 4450 is sponsored by more than a third of the House of Representatives, and almost equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats. A Senate companion bill, S. 2250, is sponsored by more than a quarter of that chamber.

A report released earlier this month, Brand USA: Working for All of Us, details the positive economic benefits of Brand USA for destinations nationwide. For example, in 2013, Brand USA:

• Attracted more than 1.1 million additional visitors to the United States;
• Resulted in $3.4 billion in additional visitor spending;
• Supported 53,000 new U.S. jobs;
• Generated nearly $1 billion in federal, local and state tax revenue; and,
• Yielded a 47:1 return on investment (ROI) on marketing programs—a far higher ROI than travel promotion programs operated by competitor nations such as the United Kingdom and Canada.

As described in the report, Brand USA is:

• An integrated marketing and communications program that promotes international travel to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories;
• A public-private partnership enacted in 2010 through the bipartisan Travel Promotion Act; and,
• Financed entirely by foreign visitors and the travel industry, without a single dollar of U.S. taxpayer funds, protecting the U.S. taxpayer from any exposure or risk.

Said Dow: "How often does Congress get the opportunity to vote for bipartisan legislation that creates jobs and economic growth while also reducing the deficit?"

Contacts:
Cathy Keefe, (O) 202-408-2183, (C) 703-899-7031
Jamie Morris, (O) 202-218-3621, (C) 530-545-9274

The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry that generates $2.1 trillion in economic output and supports 14.9 million jobs. U.S. Travel's mission is to increase travel to and within the United States.
Visit www.ustravel.org.
Follow us on Twitter @ustravel.