The U.S. Travel Association, formerly the Travel Industry Association, has signaled to House and Senate leaders its support for several key provisions within President Barack Obama's $825 billion economic stimulus plan, and has also proposed the inclusion of two additional provisions that it says would stimulate the economy and protect jobs, it announced last week. The plan, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, was introduced to the House of Representatives on Jan. 16 and may be voted on by House members as early as today.
"Travel is a key to economic recovery," U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow said in a statement. "Travelers—international inbound and domestic—create millions of jobs and their spending permeates through the American economy."
In a letter addressed to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the U.S. Travel Association expressed support for tax provisions that would help small businesses and rural businesses; transportation infrastructure investments that would go towards highways, high-speed rail systems, bridges and airport improvement projects; public land infrastructure investments that would aid in the preservation of visitor facilities, roads and trails, and historic buildings; and domestic and international travel facilitation investments, including two key security measures that would improve security checkpoint speed and efficiency.
In addition to those existing measures, the association has also asked Congress to authorize the creation of a travel promotion program, which would attract more international visitors to the United States, and to invest in a new air traffic control system that would enhance national mobility for both domestic and international travelers.
"America's economy is in desperate need of solutions," Dow wrote in his letter to Congressional leaders. "By embracing travel—welcoming more visitors into the United States and improving the ability of Americans to travel for business and leisure purposes—Congress can create jobs, drive spending and provide the American economy with the rapid and meaningful boost it needs at the federal, state and local levels."
To read the U.S. Travel Association's entire letter, visit
www.ustravel.org.