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Krishnamoorthi moves to restore Brand USA funding
The legislation seeks to replenish the Travel Promotion Fund used to draw international travelers to the country.
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Malvika Choudhary - Mon, 24, Nov 2025
- 11:40 EST
- 15
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi / File Photo
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has introduced a bill aimed at restoring $80 million in federal funding for Brand USA, the country’s public-private partnership responsible for promoting the United States to international travelers.
The legislation titled, ‘Brand USA Restoration Act’, seeks to replenish the Travel Promotion Fund after the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” reduced Brand USA’s federal matching funds by 80 percent.
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Brand USA’s federal match—historically up to $100 million—was reduced to about $20 million under a budget reconciliation measure.
The funding loss came as the U.S. prepares for major international events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, America 250, and the 2028 Summer Olympics, all expected to draw significant global travel.
Krishnamoorthi said the measure is intended to safeguard jobs and maintain the country’s global competitiveness.
“Restoring Brand USA’s funding is about protecting American jobs and strengthening our economy. When we attract visitors from around the world, we support American workers, small businesses, and communities in every state. This bill ensures that the United States continues to compete globally and remains a top destination for international travel,” he said.
The proposal has received strong backing from the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), which represents thousands of hotel owners across the country. The association said recent funding cuts risked slowing the momentum of tourism-related economic growth.
“Restoring full funding to Brand USA was a top priority at our Fall National Advocacy Conference because this is about keeping international travelers coming to the United States and protecting our members’ businesses,” AAHOA chairman Kamalesh (KP) Patel said. He noted Brand USA’s reported $140 billion economic impact and its role in supporting more than 300,000 American jobs.
AAHOA president and CEO Laura Lee Blake added that the organization’s members—who own more than 60 percent of U.S. hotels—depend heavily on Brand USA’s international marketing efforts.
“Brand USA drives millions of international travelers to the U.S., generating tens of billions in visitor spending and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. For AAHOA Members, this funding is a major step forward—every $1 dollar for Brand USA creates $20 in visitor spending. We thank Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi for championing this effort and helping America remain fiercely competitive in the global travel market,” she said.
Brand USA was created under the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 and began operations in 2011 as the nation’s official destination marketing organization. Its mandate includes promoting inbound travel, supporting local economies and strengthening job creation across sectors.
According to the organization, international travel supports more than 1 million American jobs across industries including retail, manufacturing and construction.
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