S 4212 United States Senate · 118th Congress

American Music Tourism Act of 2024

This bill amends the Visit America Act to require the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to specifically identify and promote music-related tourism destinations (like historic venues, studios, and festivals) for both domestic and international travelers. It defines "music tourism" as traveling to visit music attractions (e.g., museums, studios) or attend live performances (festivals, concerts). The bill also mandates annual reports to Congress detailing progress on these tourism goals. These changes integrate music tourism into existing federal travel promotion efforts without creating new funding or altering current programs.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Apr 2024

Committee Review

Dec 2024

Senate Passage

Dec 2024

House Passage

President

Introduced Apr 30, 2024 Last action Dec 10, 2024

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced in Senate → Engrossed in Senate · 4 edits · Dec 5, 2024

MODERATE

The engrossed version significantly expands the bill's scope by replacing a narrow amendment to international business travel provisions with a broader mandate covering both business and leisure travel, including conferences, rural/cultural destinations, sports events, and music tourism. It also moves the music tourism definition from the Visit America Act to a different statutory location (the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023) and reduces reporting frequency from annual to biennial.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded substantially: it now covers international leisure travel (not just business), adds new categories of tourism activity (conferences, rural/cultural destinations, sports events), and relocates the music tourism definition to a different statute with a broader definition that includes 'music-related special events.'

SCOPE

Section (b) was rewritten from a small amendment adding one paragraph about music tourism to international business travel into a full replacement of subsection (d) that covers both business AND leisure travel, adds mandates for facilitating large meetings/conferences/exhibitions, emphasizing rural and cultural heritage destinations, and promoting sports and recreation events.

TIMELINE

Reporting requirement changed from annual ('each year thereafter') to biennial ('every 2 years thereafter'), reducing the frequency of required reports to Congress by half.

DEFINITION

The music tourism definition was moved from Section 605 of the Visit America Act to Section 600 of title VI of division BB of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (15 U.S.C. 9801), and expanded to include 'or music-related special event' in addition to festivals, concerts, and live musical performances.

REQUIREMENT

The domestic travel provision in section (a) was changed from 'identifying... and promoting' to 'identify... and facilitate and promote,' adding an explicit facilitation duty alongside promotion.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Dec 5, 2024

Upper · Passed

Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S6853)

upper

Dec 5, 2024

Upper · Passed

Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

upper

Dec 5, 2024

Upper · Passed

The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.

upper

Sep 17, 2024

Upper · Passed

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

upper

Jul 31, 2024

Upper · Passed

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

upper

Apr 30, 2024

Committee

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

upper

Apr 30, 2024

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor