[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 180 (Thursday, December 5, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6852-S6853]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AMERICAN MUSIC TOURISM ACT OF 2024
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 513, S.
4212.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 4212) to amend the Visit America Act to promote
music tourism, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation with an amendment to strike all after the enacting
clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American Music Tourism Act
of 2024''.
SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
COMMERCE FOR TRAVEL AND TOURISM.
(a) Domestic Travel and Tourism.--Section 605(b) of the
Visit America Act (15 U.S.C. 9803(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) 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 (15 U.S.C.
9803) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the
following:
``(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--
``(1) facilitating large meetings, incentives, conferences,
and exhibitions in the United States;
``(2) 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;
``(3) facilitating and promoting international travel and
tourism to sports and recreation events and activities in the
United States; and
``(4) 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 (15 U.S.C. 9803(f)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(4) Report on goals relating to domestic and
international travel.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of the American Music Tourism Act of 2024, and
every 2 years thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall
submit to the Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export
Promotion of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Subcommittee on
Innovation, Data, and Commerce of 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).''.
(d) Definition.--Section 600 of the Visit America Act (15
U.S.C. 9801) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and adjusting the
margins accordingly; and
(2) by striking ``In this title, the term `COVID-19 public
health emergency'--'' and inserting the following:
``In this title:
``(1) COVID-19 public health emergency.--The term `COVID-19
public health emergency'--''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Music tourism.--The term `music tourism' means--
``(A) 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
``(B) 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.''.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
Blackburn amendment to the committee-reported substitute amendment,
which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; that the committee-
reported substitute amendment, as amended, be considered and agreed to;
that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed;
and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the
table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 3313) was agreed to, as follows:
[[Page S6853]]
(Purpose: To provide a technical correction)
On page 6, line 9, strike ``Section 600 of the Visit
America Act'' and insert ``Section 600 of title VI of
division BB of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023''.
The committee-reported amendment in the nature of a substitute, as
amended, was agreed to.
The bill (S. 4212), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows:
S. 4212
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American Music Tourism Act
of 2024''.
SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
COMMERCE FOR TRAVEL AND TOURISM.
(a) Domestic Travel and Tourism.--Section 605(b) of the
Visit America Act (15 U.S.C. 9803(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) 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 (15 U.S.C.
9803) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the
following:
``(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--
``(1) facilitating large meetings, incentives, conferences,
and exhibitions in the United States;
``(2) 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;
``(3) facilitating and promoting international travel and
tourism to sports and recreation events and activities in the
United States; and
``(4) 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 (15 U.S.C. 9803(f)) is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``(4) Report on goals relating to domestic and
international travel.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of the American Music Tourism Act of 2024, and
every 2 years thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall
submit to the Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export
Promotion of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Subcommittee on
Innovation, Data, and Commerce of 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).''.
(d) Definition.--Section 600 of title VI of division BB of
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (15 U.S.C. 9801) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and adjusting the
margins accordingly; and
(2) by striking ``In this title, the term `COVID-19 public
health emergency'--'' and inserting the following:
``In this title:
``(1) COVID-19 public health emergency.--The term `COVID-19
public health emergency'--''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Music tourism.--The term `music tourism' means--
``(A) 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
``(B) 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.''.
____________________