Bill Summary
The American Music Tourism Act of 2025 is a law that amends the Visit America Act to promote music tourism in the United States. It requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to identify important music-related locations and events and facilitate domestic and international travel to them. The law also requires the Assistant Secretary to work with other federal agencies to increase and facilitate international business and leisure travel to the United States. Additionally, the law requires the Assistant Secretary to report on their progress and goals relating to domestic and international travel. The Act also includes a definition of "music tourism" as the act of traveling to visit music-related attractions or attending music festivals, concerts, or other live performances. This law was passed by the House of Representatives in 2025 and aims to boost tourism and promote the unique cultural heritage of music in the United States.
Possible Impacts
1. People involved in the music industry may see an increase in tourism and exposure for their events and performances as a result of the legislation promoting music tourism.
2. Rural and culturally significant destinations may experience a boost in visitation and revenue as they are identified and promoted as potential locations for hosting international meetings and events.
3. The Assistant Secretary and relevant federal agencies will be required to report on their progress and achievements in increasing and facilitating international travel and tourism, which could potentially influence future policies and decisions related to travel and tourism.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 617 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 59
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 617
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 29, 2025
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the Visit America Act to promote music tourism, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``American Music Tourism Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR
TRAVEL AND TOURISM.
(a) Domestic Travel and Tourism.--Section 605(b) of the Visit
America Act (15 U.S.C. 9803(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) identify locations and events in the United States
that are important to music tourism and facilitate and promote
domestic travel and tourism to those locations and events.''.
(b) Facilitation of International Business and Leisure Travel.--
Section 605 of the Visit America Act (15 U.S.C. 9803) is amended by
striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
``(d) Facilitation of International Business and Leisure Travel.--
The Assistant Secretary, in coordination with relevant Federal
agencies, shall strive to increase and facilitate international
business and leisure travel to the United States and ensure
competitiveness by--
``(1) facilitating large meetings, incentives, conferences,
and exhibitions in the United States;
``(2) emphasizing rural and other destinations in the
United States that are rich in cultural heritage or ecological
tourism, among other uniquely American destinations, as
locations for hosting international meetings, incentives,
conferences, and exhibitions;
``(3) facilitating and promoting international travel and
tourism to sports and recreation events and activities in the
United States; and
``(4) identifying locations and events in the United States
that are important to music tourism and facilitating and
promoting international travel and tourism to those locations
and events.''.
(c) Reporting Requirements.--Section 605(f) of the Visit America
Act (15 U.S.C. 9803(f)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Report on goals relating to domestic and
international travel.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the American Music Tourism Act of 2025, and every
2 years thereafter, the Assistant Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives a report of activities, findings, achievements,
and vulnerabilities relating to the goals described in
subsections (a) through (d).''.
(d) Definition.--Section 600 of title VI of division BB of the
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (15 U.S.C. 9801) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and adjusting the
margins accordingly;
(2) by striking ``In this title, the term `COVID-19 public
health emergency'--'' and inserting the following:
``In this title:
``(1) COVID-19 public health emergency.--The term `COVID-19
public health emergency'--''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Music tourism.--The term `music tourism' means--
``(A) the act of traveling to a State or locality
to visit historic or modern day music-related
attractions, including museums, studios, venues of all
sizes, and other sites related to music; or
``(B) the act of traveling to a State or locality
to attend a music festival, a concert, or other live
musical performance or music-related special event.''.
Passed the House of Representatives April 28, 2025.
Attest:
KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,
Clerk.
Calendar No. 59
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 617
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the Visit America Act to promote music tourism, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
April 29, 2025
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar