I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 617 
To amend the Visit America Act to promote music tourism, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 22, 2025 
Mrs. HARSHBARGER (for herself and Ms. BARRAGA´N) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Visit America Act to promote music tourism, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘American Music Tour-
ism 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— 
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(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 fa-
cilitate 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 co-
ordination 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, con-
ferences, and exhibitions in the United States; 
‘‘(2) emphasizing rural and other destinations 
in the United States that are rich in cultural herit-
age or ecological tourism, among other uniquely 
American destinations, as locations for hosting inter-
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national meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhi-
bitions; 
‘‘(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 DOMES-
TIC 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 Trans-
portation of the Senate and the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce of the House of Representatives 
a report of activities, findings, achievements, and 
vulnerabilities relating to the goals described in sub-
sections (a) through (d).’’. 
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(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 adjust-
ing 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
EMER-
GENCY.—The term ‘COVID–19 public health emer-
gency’—’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) MUSIC TOURISM.—The term ‘music tour-
ism’ means— 
‘‘(A) the act of traveling to a State or lo-
cality to visit historic or modern day music-re-
lated attractions, including museums, studios, 
venues of all sizes, and other sites related to 
music; or 
‘‘(B) the act of traveling to a State or lo-
cality to attend a music festival, a concert, or 
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other live musical performance or music-related 
special event.’’. 
Æ 
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