VISIT USA Act
- Bill Number
- S. 3220
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Commerce
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-18T11:03:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The VISIT USA Act aims to provide additional funding to Brand USA (the Corporation for Travel Promotion), a nonprofit organization that promotes international travel to the United States, by transferring money from a dedicated government fund. This supports efforts to boost tourism and economic activity through marketing the U.S. as a travel destination.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The bill is titled the "Vital Investment in Sustaining International Tourism to the USA Act" or "VISIT USA Act."
- Fund Transfer: The Secretary of the Treasury must transfer $160,000,000 from unobligated (unused) balances in the Travel Promotion Fund to Brand USA within 30 days of the bill's enactment. These funds come from fees collected under the Immigration and Nationality Act (related to the Visa Waiver Program) before October 1, 2025.
- Exemptions and Requirements:
- The transfer is exempt from the maximum annual transfer limit set by the Travel Promotion Act of 2009.
- Brand USA must follow matching requirements (providing private funds to match the federal contribution) and carryover rules (allowing unused funds to be used in future years) from the 2009 Act.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill modifies the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 by overriding the cap on federal transfers to Brand USA, allowing a one-time $160 million infusion beyond normal limits.
- It ensures the transferred funds are subject to existing accountability measures, like matching private contributions, without altering the core structure of the Travel Promotion Fund.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of the Treasury will handle the transfer, reducing balances in the Travel Promotion Fund but enabling targeted tourism promotion without new taxpayer spending.
- Citizens and Economy: Could increase international tourism, creating jobs in hospitality, travel, and related sectors; benefits U.S. businesses and local economies reliant on visitors.
- International Relations: Enhances the U.S. image abroad through marketing, potentially strengthening cultural and economic ties with other countries by encouraging more travel and exchanges.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Brand USA: Receives the funding to expand marketing campaigns for U.S. tourism.
- Tourism Industry: Airlines, hotels, attractions, and travel agencies stand to gain from increased visitor numbers.
- International Travelers: Easier promotion may lead to more awareness and visits to the U.S.
- U.S. Government: The Treasury and Commerce Department (which oversees related policies) are involved in fund management and oversight.
- Taxpayers: Indirectly affected, as the funds originate from existing visa-related fees rather than general taxes.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The transfer is authorized under existing immigration fee laws, with built-in safeguards like matching requirements to ensure fiscal responsibility; no new taxes or appropriations are created.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to regulate commerce and immigration, as it repurposes fees from a federal program without infringing on individual rights.
- Political: Bipartisan support (introduced by senators from both parties) highlights tourism as a non-controversial economic priority; could signal post-pandemic recovery efforts for the travel sector, though implementation depends on congressional approval and budget constraints.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-19: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2025-11-19: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Vital Investment in Sustaining International Tourism to the USA Act — issued 2025-11-19 — PDF (2 pages)