[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 8 (Monday, January 12, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 4165. Mrs. BLACKBURN submitted an amendment intended to be 
proposed by her to the bill H.R. 6938, making consolidated 
appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. ___. AMERICAN MUSIC TOURISM ACT OF 2026.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the 
     ``American Music Tourism Act of 2026''.
       (b) Responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce 
     for Travel and Tourism.--
       (1) Domestic travel and tourism.--Section 605(b) of the 
     Visit America Act (15 U.S.C. 9803(b)) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
     semicolon;
       (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) 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.''.
       (2) 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.''.
       (3) 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 2026, 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).''.
       (4) Definition.--Section 600 of title VI of division BB of 
     the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (15 U.S.C. 9801) is 
     amended--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and adjusting the 
     margins accordingly;
       (B) 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
       (C) 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.''.
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