WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) today applauded committee passage of the “Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act,” a bipartisan bill they introduced to reauthorize Brand USA and help boost international tourism to the United States.

“Travel and tourism are important to economic growth and private sector job creation in Missouri and nationwide,” said Blunt. “I’m pleased my colleagues on the Senate Commerce Committee support this common-sense, bipartisan bill to enhance and modernize Brand USA so we can continue to promote international travel to the U.S. and bring revenue and jobs to communities across the nation – without costing taxpayers a dime.”

“International tourism to the United States helps drive billions in sales every year, powering economic growth in local communities in Minnesota and across the country,” said Klobuchar. “Brand USA is a proven partnership that helps the U.S. compete globally by boosting tourism to the United States, and I’ll keep pressing to extend this program until we get it done.”

The Senators’ legislation – which passed the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday – would reauthorize Brand USA, a public-private partnership that enhances tourism across the country by promoting international travel to the United States. In 2013, Brand USA generated 1.1 million additional international visitors to the U.S. who spent an estimated $3.4 billion, strengthening local businesses and stimulating economic growth. Blunt and Klobuchar’s bill has 30 additional co-sponsors in the Senate, and according to the Congressional Budget Office would reduce the deficit by $231 million over 10 years.

Blunt and Klobuchar introduced the bipartisan Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act to reauthorize Brand USA through 2020. Brand USA is funded by international visitors and private contributions – not U.S. taxpayers. Half of its budget comes from the private sector through cash and in-kind contributions. The rest of the budget – up to a maximum of $100 million – is funded by a nominal fee assessed on visa-free international visitors screened by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Brand USA can only collect up to $100 million from ESTA fees paid by foreign travelers visiting the U.S., and amounts collected in excess of the cap are returned to the U.S. Treasury to help reduce the deficit.