Blunt urges action on bipartisan bill supporting Brand USA

Bipartisan, bicameral legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) supporting Brand USA, a public-private partnership that promotes international travel to the United States, awaits action by Congress.

“I’m committed to making sure we have the resources in place to help our travel and tourism industry bounce back quickly and emerge from this public health crisis even stronger than before,” Sen. Blunt said on Sept. 24.

The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in August approved the Restoring Brand USA Act, S. 2424, which Sen. Blunt introduced in July with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), co-chairs of the Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus, and fellow cosponsors including U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Shelley Moore Capito (WV). The identical bill, H.R. 4594, was introduced the same day by U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Peter Welch (D-VT).  

The measure since then has been included in the Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act, which in turn is now part of the sweeping Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, H.R. 3684, under consideration in Congress.

“I’m pleased the Commerce Committee approved this bill with strong, bipartisan support,” said Sen. Blunt. “It will help the U.S. remain competitive in the international tourism industry, bring more visitors to attractions in Missouri and across the nation, and benefit everyone whose livelihoods depend on this critical industry. I urge all of our colleagues to support this bill and get it to the president’s desk.”

If enacted, the Restoring Brand USA Act would help Brand USA promote the U.S. to international visitors by directing the U.S. Treasury Department to allow the U.S. Commerce Department to access critical resources to support the program for fiscal year 2022, according to Sen. Blunt’s staff.