US House passes American Music Tourism Act, sends bill to Trump
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the American Music Tourism Act, sending the bill to President Donald Trump for his signature. The House approved the Senate text, S. 195, by voice vote on Tuesday, 15 September. The bill has since been enrolled, the formal step before it is presented to the President, Music Business Worldwide reported.
The measure would add music to the tourism-promotion work the Commerce Department already carries out under the Visit America Act. It directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism, the official who leads federal travel promotion, to identify U.S. locations and events that matter for music tourism. That office would then promote domestic and international travel to them.
Federal law would define music tourism in broad terms. It covers travel to museums, studios and venues of all sizes. It also covers travel to festivals, concerts and other live musical performances or music-related special events.
S. 195 would also widen existing tourism language. The Visit America Act currently covers international business travel. The bill would extend it to international business and leisure travel. It would also strengthen the sports provision, moving from facilitating events in the United States to facilitating and promoting international travel and tourism to them.
Accountability is built in. Within a year of enactment, and every two years after that, the Assistant Secretary must report to the Senate Commerce Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee on activities, findings, achievements and vulnerabilities linked to travel and tourism goals.
The Senate bill was led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn. The House companion, H.R. 617, was led by Rep. Diana Harshbarger. House passage came under suspension of the rules, a procedure used to move broadly supported bills quickly, House Energy and Commerce Committee records show. The vote had bipartisan support, according to Rep. Harshbarger's office. The vote was unanimous, Pollstar reported.
Harshbarger applauded the final passage. She said the bipartisan effort involved more than two years of work before heading to the President's desk.
For travellers, this means music could soon sit alongside business travel and sport in official U.S. visitor campaigns. A small club, a historic studio, a museum or a summer festival could be listed and promoted in the same federal push.
