Sunshine Matters

I am pleased to announce that yesterday evening the U.S. House of Representatives resoundingly voted to reauthorize Brand USA by passing H.R. 4450, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014.  Clearing the House is a major step toward achieving renewal of this vital travel promotion program.

“This victory would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our travel community who engaged in a wide range of activities including hosting round table meetings and tours in local markets, lobbying on Capitol Hill, sending emails and letters, recording video testimonials and utilizing social media to urge elected federal representatives to support re-authorization of Brand USA,” said Roger Dow, President & CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.  “We also could not have won the House vote without the leadership of Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Peter Welch (D-VT), who introduced the Brand USA re-authorization measure in April and shepherded the bill through the chamber’s process.” Continue reading »