Brand USA Extension Progresses

Press Release

Promoting the Marianas as a tourist destination supports thousands of jobs and the economic recovery of our islands after Super Typhoon Yutu. That is why I support legislation to continue--and increase funding for--Brand USA. The organization promotes the U.S., including the Marianas, as a travel destination in China, Korea, Japan, and from dozens of other offices worldwide. Marianas Visitors Authority has already partnered this year with Brand USA in Osaka, Tokyo, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.

Funding expires soon for the program; but the Senate Commerce Committee approved a seven-year extension that now goes to a vote by the full Senate. The Marianas and other non-state areas were not in the original legislation creating Brand USA. I fixed that in 2014 with an amendment to the Travel Promotion Act in Public Law 113-235, the same law that prevented expiration of the CW program.

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