H.R. 617

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To amend the Visit America Act to promote music tourism, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · January 22, 2025 · Sponsor: Mrs. Harshbarger · Committee: Committee on Energy and Commerce

Table of contents

• H.R. 617
  • SEC. 1. Short title
  • SEC. 2. Responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism

SEC. 1. Short title

• This Act may be cited as the American Music Tourism Act of 2025.
• Short title

SEC. 2. Responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism

• Responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism
• (a) Domestic travel and tourism
  • Section 605(b) of the Visit America Act () is amended— 15 U.S.C. 9803(b)
  • Domestic travel and tourism
    • in paragraph (2), by striking and inserting a semicolon;
    • in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
    • by adding at the end the following:
      • identify locations and events in the United States that are important to music tourism and facilitate and promote domestic travel and tourism to those locations and events.
• (b) Facilitation of international business and leisure travel
  • Section 605 of the Visit America Act () is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: 15 U.S.C. 9803
  • Facilitation of international business and leisure travel
    • (d) Facilitation of international business and leisure travel
      • The Assistant Secretary, in coordination with relevant Federal agencies, shall strive to increase and facilitate international business and leisure travel to the United States and ensure competitiveness by—
      • Facilitation of international business and leisure travel
        • facilitating large meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions in the United States;
        • emphasizing rural and other destinations in the United States that are rich in cultural heritage or ecological tourism, among other uniquely American destinations, as locations for hosting international meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions;
        • facilitating and promoting international travel and tourism to sports and recreation events and activities in the United States; and
        • identifying locations and events in the United States that are important to music tourism and facilitating and promoting international travel and tourism to those locations and events.
• (c) Reporting requirements
  • Section 605(f) of the Visit America Act () is amended by adding at the end the following: 15 U.S.C. 9803(f)
  • Reporting requirements
    • (4) Report on goals relating to domestic and international travel
      • Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the , and every 2 years thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report of activities, findings, achievements, and vulnerabilities relating to the goals described in subsections (a) through (d).
      • Report on goals relating to domestic and international travel
• (d) Definition
  • Section 600 of title VI of division BB of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 () is amended— 15 U.S.C. 9801
  • Definition
    • by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and adjusting the margins accordingly;
    • by striking and inserting the following:
      • In this title:
      • (1) COVID–19 public health emergency
        • The term — COVID–19 public health emergency
        • COVID–19 public health emergency
    • by adding at the end the following:
      • (2) Music tourism
        • The term means— music tourism
        • Music tourism
          • the act of traveling to a State or locality to visit historic or modern day music-related attractions, including museums, studios, venues of all sizes, and other sites related to music; or
          • the act of traveling to a State or locality to attend a music festival, a concert, or other live musical performance or music-related special event.