Bipartisan Group Co-chairs New U.S. Senate Travel & Tourism Caucus

June 23, 2011

Klobuchar, Begich, Blunt, Kirk to Focus on Boosting Tourism to the United States

On Wednesday, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mark Begich (D-AK), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Mark Kirk (R-IL) launched the U.S. Senate Travel & Tourism Caucus, a bipartisan caucus that will work to promote common-sense policies that reduce barriers to travel and raise awareness of the importance of job-creating travel and tourism industry. Klobuchar, Begich and Blunt serve on the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the U.S. tourism industry.

"This is significant. There hasn’t been a travel and tourism caucus in the senate for 25 years," said Lisa Simon, president of NTA. "We applaud Senators Klobuchar, Begich, Blunt and Kirk for recognizing that this industry is a major contributor to the national economy. Their leadership on travel industry issues will pave the way for increased U.S. domestic tourism-and international tourism to the United States-resulting in much-needed revenues and jobs throughout the country."

Simon said she appreciates the senators’ previous leadership in travel and tourism. "These four Senate leaders have previously established themselves as strong advocates of the successful Travel Promotion Act and other pending legislation that will enhance this growing sector of our national economy," she said. "We at NTA look forward to working with them-and with all members of the Senate Travel & Tourism Caucus."