[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 70 (Monday, April 28, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1635-H1637]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AMERICAN MUSIC TOURISM ACT OF 2025
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 617) to amend the Visit America Act to promote music
tourism, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 617
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 2025''.
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
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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 2025, 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).''.
(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;
(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.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 617, the
American Music Tourism Act of 2025, led by the gentlewoman from
Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger), my good friend and a great member of the
Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Madam Speaker, this bipartisan legislation directs the National
Travel and Tourism Office to promote domestic and international tourism
to U.S. music festivals, concert venues, and other music-related
attractions.
Music tourism is a significant economic driver. It is estimated that,
by 2032, it will become a $13.8 billion industry. By enhancing our
promotion of music-related tourism, we can stimulate local economies,
create jobs, and showcase America's rich cultural heritage.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of
H.R. 617, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise to speak in support of H.R. 617, the American
Music Tourism Act.
Madam Speaker, I know Republicans want to pretend like it is business
as usual around here, but the daily chaos and illegal activity that we
are seeing from the Trump administration is not business as usual.
The reality is that 15 of the 16 bills we are considering today from
the Committee on Energy and Commerce, including this one, should
already be law. They were already agreed to last year as part of a
bipartisan, bicameral legislative package that was set to be passed and
signed into law in December before Elon Musk intervened and killed the
agreement.
{time} 1430
That package included important provisions that would have lowered
costs for hardworking Americans, but instead of passing it and sending
it to the President's desk to be signed into law, my Republican
colleagues allowed Elon Musk to decide what becomes law.
What is especially upsetting about this is that my Republican
colleagues know this was a good agreement that would have helped
people. It included provisions to lower prescription drug prices, crack
down on junk fees, lower gas prices, ensure our water is safe to drink,
and fund community health centers and teaching health centers. Instead,
Speaker Johnson chose to cave to Elon Musk.
Though it may be delayed, I am pleased to be supporting the passage
today of the American Music Tourism Act. Americans are fortunate to
have a rich musical heritage. Throughout the United States, you can
find countless venues where talented musicians perform. These venues
attract millions of people from around the country and the world who
want to see their favorite artists or visit the place where famous
musicians have launched their careers, all of which contribute
significantly to our local communities.
Music and musical venues are very important to my district in New
Jersey. Asbury Park has been the home of the legendary Stone Pony for
over 50 years, one of the places where New Jersey's famous son, Bruce
Springsteen, got his start. Redbank, New Jersey, is the site of the
Count Basie Theatre named in honor of William ``Count'' Basie, who
revolutionized jazz music and whose legacy continues through the
theater, which continues to support and inspire new generations of
local musicians.
This is why I am pleased to support the American Music Tourism Act.
This bill would direct the National Travel and Tourism Office to
promote domestic and international travel and tourism to U.S. venues
like The Stone Pony and the Count Basie Theatre. It will help expand
the already significant economic contributions that these venues bring
to our local and national economies.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Barragan for her leadership on
this issue and encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.
These bills, for the most part, that we are going to be considering
today were part of that original package that Elon Musk negated, but we
are going to try to move those bills today despite what he did to try
to scuttle everything.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger), my good friend.
Mrs. HARSHBARGER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Chairman Gus
Bilirakis, who I affectionately call Gus, and Ranking Member Pallone
for supporting this act.
We have the opportunity today to vote on legislation centered around
something that brings us all together, and that is music. Today, we
will take the American Music Tourism Act under consideration. It is a
bipartisan piece of legislation that I am proud to have led through the
House alongside my co-lead, Representative Nanette Barragan.
It will require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and
Tourism to develop a plan to boost music tourism, welcoming both
domestic and international visitors to experience the rich musical
heritage we have across America.
It also ensures that Congress stays informed, with regular reports on
our progress, our success, and any challenges that we face.
Importantly, let me emphasize this bill will not require any
additional taxpayer dollars. It is a smart, efficient, and unique way
to support our economy without increasing spending.
Whether it is New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz; Seattle, where
they rock out to grunge; the cradles of hip hop, which are L.A. and New
York; or Austin, which proudly calls itself the Live Music Capital of
the World, our Nation is overflowing with the rich history of music.
For those of us in Tennessee's First District, which I represent,
this bill is especially personal. We are home to
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treasures like Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, the home of Dolly Parton, and
the Birthplace of Country Music, which is in Bristol, Tennessee--places
that just don't celebrate our culture but also drive tourism, create
jobs, and strengthen our communities. I can't forget a little town in
my district called Sneedville, Tennessee, and that is the home of
Morgan Wallen. My favorite song is ``The Way I Talk.'' I thought for a
long time, Mr. Speaker, that he wrote that about me, but I have come to
find out that he didn't.
As a tribute to Dolly Parton, all I have to say is that we have been
working longer than ``9 to 5'' to get this bill across the finish line.
I am so thankful for the strong bipartisan partnership that made it
possible today.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, this bill, as I said, was part of that
bipartisan package that we had hoped would be passed last December but
for Elon Musk.
This bill is important. I know that back in Asbury Park, in
particular, they will be very happy to know that our Congress is paying
so much attention to American music tourism.
Mr. Speaker, I ask for support on both sides of the aisle for the
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, let me tell you, the speaker on the floor
of the House of Representatives in the great State of Florida used to
begin his speeches by saying, ``I am fired up.'' I am fired up, Mr.
Speaker, because we are going to pass a great bill that promotes
America.
With the previous bill honoring the 1980 USA Gold Medal hockey team,
this is a great day in D.C. and all over the United States of America.
In closing, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this particular bill, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bean of Florida). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 617.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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