BUSINESS
RELATING TO GOVERNMENT
INSIGHTS ON U.S. LEGISLATIVE ISSUES AND INDUSTRY TOPICS
Pro-travel issues advance from Congress
and the White House
White House have remained responsive
to the needs of the tourism sector.
In July both the House and Senate
appropriations committees marked up
their respective Transportation, Housing
and Urban Development appropriations
bills for fiscal year 2018. The Senate bill
proposes an increase to the Passenger
Facility Charge, a fee charged by air-
ports to passengers to fund airport
infrastructure.
PFCs enable airports to fund modern-
ization projects that can reduce conges-
tion and enhance the overall traveling
experience. PFCs are currently capped
at $4.50, and the Senate bill would
increase this cap to $8.50 at the point of
origin. The House bill does not include
this increase. It is likely, however, that
airlines and others will vehemently
oppose this increase during the THUD
appropriations conference committee
later this year.
The Trump administration’s proposed
FY2018 budget, which was presented
to Congress in May, included the elimi-
nation of Brand USA, a public-private
partnership that was established by the
Travel Promotion Act of 2009. Brand USA
markets the U.S. abroad as a top travel
bit.ly/2jeCv9f
WHILE CONGRESS and the Trump
administration often appear at odds
with one another, issues important
to the travel and tourism sector have
recently advanced. Congress has clearly
made travel security, travel moderniza-
tion and tourism promotion a priority
as part of its funding plan for fiscal year
2018. The White House is also looking
for ways to improve and enhance infra-
structure spending, an issue important
to the travel and tourism industry.
As NTA has remained engaged with
the U.S. federal government on its priori-
ties, the House, the Senate and even the
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October 2017