Brand USA Funding | Campaign for IMLS Funding | Push for Additional H-2B Visas
America 250 Ideas: Virginia Passport 250
Last week, bipartisan legislation, the VISIT USA Act, was introduced in Congress to restore Brand USA’s funding, which was cut by 80% under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In the House, Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) sponsored the bill. In the Senate, the sponsors are Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
The language is identical in both bills and would reinstate the funding allocation the Visa Waiver Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fees for Brand USA, which allows the national destination marketing organization to collect up to $100 million each year.
More details are available in this Travel Pulse article; the press release from Rep. Bilirakis, and the press release from Sen. Capito.
The text of the VISIT USA Act can be read here.
The Association of American Museums has launched a campaign to support robust funding for the Office of Museum Services in the Institute for Museum & Library Services (IMLS), which is a federal partner important to many tourism communities. The online campaign can be found here. This open directly to the campaign page, so if you don’t want share your contact information, you can cut and paste the email text into your own email and send directly to your congressional representatives.
Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) are spearheading a bipartisan push for the release of supplemental H-2B seasonal employment visas that are critical to the hospitality industry. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, King, Rounds and 29 of their colleagues call on the Administration to release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for fiscal year (FY) 2026. H-2B visas fill workforce needs for American small businesses that are unable to hire enough American workers to fill the temporary, seasonal positions.
In addition to King and Rounds, Senators who signed the letter are: U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Tim Scott (R-SC), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Michael Crapo (R-ID), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Barrasso (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), John Thune (R-SD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
The letter can be read here.
A Great idea from the Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) to promote visitation to its special places in 2026. In conjunction with the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission, VTC has launched Virginia Passport 250, statewide tourism initiative to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary by encouraging visits to historic sites. WAVY has more details in Virginia launches historic sites passport program to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
I am heading to Michigan to enjoy Thanksgiving and the Lions game with my family. I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.