Travel Business Requires Action on Capitol Hill, Honors Travel Champions Driving Change

The journey trade joined collectively in Washington, D.C. Tuesday and Wednesday for U.S. Travel’s Destination Capitol Hill, the journey trade’s premier legislative fly-in occasion. Nearly 400 U.S. Travel Association members and trade advocates representing 49 states met with members of Congress—together with Sens. John Barasso (R-WY), Katie Britt (R-AL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and John Thune (R-SD)—to advocate for coverage modifications that can form the way forward for our trade.

Travel advocates made three particular asks to members of Congress:

• Cosponsor and go laws to make sure air visitors controllers and TSA officers are paid throughout funding lapses to stop disruptions to the economic system and the air journey system.
• Halt proposed modifications to the ESTA utility and delay or restrict the proposed Visa Integrity Fee.
• Cosponsor S. 3220 / H.R. 6128, the VISIT USA Act, which might switch $160 million in surplus Travel Promotion Funds to Brand USA to extend visitation to the U.S. for main upcoming occasions and restore our misplaced share of worldwide guests.

During U.S. Travel’s Destination Capitol Hill, the affiliation acknowledged Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV) for his or her contributions to the expansion of America’s journey trade. The affiliation additionally acknowledged the TSA officers and Air Traffic Controllers who continued to guard the nation’s aviation system with out pay—demonstrating extraordinary dedication to holding vacationers secure, flights transferring and the U.S. economic system working throughout instances of disruption.

“America saw that travel is much more than just getting from point A to point B during the government shutdowns, and we’ll see it again with the impact America 250, the World Cup and the Olympics will bring to every corner of our country,” mentioned Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of U.S. Travel. “But we still have work to do to capture these opportunities. Sec. Duffy, Sen. Klobuchar, and Rep. Amodei are leading the way, ensuring that we modernize our travel infrastructure, strengthen aviation security and improve the traveler experience to keep the U.S. globally competitive.”

Congress is an integral associate in creating the seamless, dependable journey system we have to capitalize on the historic alternatives forward, maintain folks transferring, companies thriving and America transferring ahead. The selections made now will form the way forward for our trade.

Travel Champion Awards

The Travel Champion Awards are an annual honor introduced by the U.S. Travel Association to members of Congress and Executive Branch officers for exhibiting excellent management for his or her devoted service and invaluable contributions to the expansion and vitality of America’s journey trade.

• Secretary Sean Duffy acquired the 2026 Travel Champion Award for strengthening security and safety and getting ready U.S. infrastructure to assist financial development and main world occasions.
• Congressman Mark Amodei acquired the Distinguished Leadership Award for his 15 years of devoted service in Congress and unwavering assist of the U.S. journey trade.
• Senator Amy Klobuchar acquired the Distinguished Leadership Award in recognition of 20 years of management within the U.S. Senate and invaluable contributions to the expansion and vitality of America’s journey trade as co-chair of the Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus and a longtime champion of Brand USA.  

Travel Hero Awards

The Travel Hero Awards are awarded in recognition of the steadfast dedication, service and resilience of frontline staff who exemplify the very best requirements of public service.

• Air Traffic Controllers who continued to make sure the protection of air journey with out pay in the course of the 43-day authorities shutdown in 2025.
• TSA officers who continued to guard the nation’s aviation system with out pay throughout two record-breaking funding lapses.