Sponsors (16)
The bill reallocates $160 million in fee balances to expand Brand USA marketing to boost tourism and local economic activity without new appropriations, but does so by redirecting funds from other uses and loosening a statutory spending cap, creating trade-offs in fiscal control and alternative program funding.
Small-business owners in tourism (hotels, restaurants, tour operators) could see increased international visitors and revenue from a $160 million Brand USA marketing infusion.
State and local tourism agencies and communities could receive support for marketing campaigns that boost local tax receipts and tourism-related jobs.
Taxpayers are less likely to face a new direct federal appropriation because the bill uses unobligated fee balances instead of requesting new Congressional spending.
Taxpayers and other potential beneficiaries could lose out because $160 million in fee-derived funds are redirected to Brand USA instead of being available for other programs or deficit reduction.
Exempting this transfer from the Travel Promotion Act’s statutory cap weakens fiscal limits and could set a precedent for future overrides of spending caps.
Brand USA’s matching and carryforward rules may limit how quickly some funds can be used or shift additional costs onto private partners, reducing immediate benefits for small businesses.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires Treasury to transfer $160 million in unobligated Travel Promotion Fund fees to Brand USA within 30 days, exempting the transfer from the usual statutory cap while keeping matching and carryforward rules.
Directs the Treasury Secretary to transfer $160,000,000 in unobligated fee balances from the Travel Promotion Fund to the Corporation for Travel Promotion (Brand USA) within 30 days of enactment. The transfer applies only to fees collected before October 1, 2025, is exempted from the Travel Promotion Act’s statutory cap on transfers, and remains subject to the fund’s matching and carryforward rules.
Introduced November 19, 2025 by Gus Bilirakis · Last progress November 19, 2025