“I want this bill passed without changes. It's about promoting music and sports tourism. The government will spend money to promote that.”
“I want the House to pass this bill to promote music tourism.”
“Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 195) to amend the Visit America Act to promote music tourism, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:”
Official Congressional Record
Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 195) to amend the Visit America Act to promote music tourism, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows:
“I want the government to promote music tourism. It is already promoting other tourism. This bill makes music tourism part of that. It does not cost more money. It does not create new government offices. I want you to pass the bill.”
“I want the House to pass this bill. It tells the government to promote music tourism just like it promotes other travel. It does not spend new tax dollars or create new offices.”
“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to speak in support of S. 195, the America Music Tourism Act of 2025. Music is one of the truest expressions of who we are as a country. It is part of the fabric of American life in every region and in every community. This bill simply directs the Department of Commerce to do what it already does for other forms of tourism: to build a plan to promote it and keep Congress informed. It asks for no new taxpayer dollars. It creates no new bureaucracy. It just puts music tourism on the same level of other national attractions. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.”
Official Congressional Record
Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today to speak in support of S. 195, the America Music Tourism Act of 2025. Music is one of the truest expressions of who we are as a country. It is part of the fabric of American life in every region and in every community. This bill simply directs the Department of Commerce to do what it already does for other forms of tourism: to build a plan to promote it and keep Congress informed. It asks for no new taxpayer dollars. It creates no new bureaucracy. It just puts music tourism on the same level of other national attractions. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
“I am yielding time to someone else. I like her. She is from Tennessee. She worked on this bill. Dolly Parton was born there. That makes sense for this bill.”
“I support this bill to bring more tourists to American music attractions. I am letting Representative Harshbarger speak about her work on it.”
“Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger), who has worked tirelessly on this legislation. It is appropriate today she represents the community from which Ms. Dolly Parton was born.”
Official Congressional Record
Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Harshbarger), who has worked tirelessly on this legislation. It is appropriate today she represents the community from which Ms. Dolly Parton was born.
“I want this bill to pass. I say it will not cost taxpayers money. I mention places in my state and other states. The bill will have the government promote music tourism. I want to praise my colleagues. I want everyone to vote yes.”
“I want the House to pass this bill so the president can sign it. It directs the government to promote music tourism across the country, and it does not cost taxpayers any extra money.”
“Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the American Music Tourism Act of 2025. It is bipartisan legislation that I have had the privilege of leading in the House alongside my colleague from California, Congresswoman Barragan, and our partner in the Senate, Senator Blackburn. Whether it is Dolly Parton or Morgan Wallen, they have got a storied history colored by many country music icons. From Dollywood in Pigeon Forge to the birthplace of country music in Bristol, Tennessee, east Tennessee does play a vital role in our Nation's music tourism industry. That story is true in communities across the country, from Nashville to Los Angeles and everywhere in between. This bill simply directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to implement a plan to grow music tourism for domestic and international visitors and to report back to Congress on that progress. It is a commonsense, bipartisan idea, and I note for my colleagues that it will not cost taxpayers one additional dollar to implement. Madam Speaker, the House already passed this bill with overwhelming bipartisan support in April. The Senate now has done the same, and this is about as close to the finish line as legislation gets. I am proud of the work that our two Chambers have done together to get us there. I thank again Congresswoman Barragan and Senator Blackburn for their partnership in helping carry this legislation forward. Madam Speaker, let's finish the job. Let's send this bill to the President's desk and give America's music communities the recognition and support they have earned. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.”
Official Congressional Record
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the American Music Tourism Act of 2025. It is bipartisan legislation that I have had the privilege of leading in the House alongside my colleague from California, Congresswoman Barragan, and our partner in the Senate, Senator Blackburn. Whether it is Dolly Parton or Morgan Wallen, they have got a storied history colored by many country music icons. From Dollywood in Pigeon Forge to the birthplace of country music in Bristol, Tennessee, east Tennessee does play a vital role in our Nation's music tourism industry. That story is true in communities across the country, from Nashville to Los Angeles and everywhere in between. This bill simply directs the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to implement a plan to grow music tourism for domestic and international visitors and to report back to Congress on that progress. It is a commonsense, bipartisan idea, and I note for my colleagues that it will not cost taxpayers one additional dollar to implement. Madam Speaker, the House already passed this bill with overwhelming bipartisan support in April. The Senate now has done the same, and this is about as close to the finish line as legislation gets. I am proud of the work that our two Chambers have done together to get us there. I thank again Congresswoman Barragan and Senator Blackburn for their partnership in helping carry this legislation forward. Madam Speaker, let's finish the job. Let's send this bill to the President's desk and give America's music communities the recognition and support they have earned. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
“I want to talk about Kentucky musicians too. I want to talk about my district. My district has bluegrass music. Bill Monroe is from my district. The Bluegrass Museum is in my district. I want the government to spend money promoting music venues in my district. I want my colleagues to vote for this bill.”
“I want you to vote for this bill. It will help promote music tourism, which will help music venues in Kentucky and across the country.”
“Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, my friend mentioned the music coming out of her beloved mountains of Kentucky, such as Chris Stapleton, Loretta Lynn, Dwight Yoakam, and Keith Whitley. I could go on and on. Madam Speaker, people from our Appalachia area call my area flatland. Flatlanders have bluegrass music. Bluegrass music came from my district. Bill Monroe is from Jerusalem Ridge in Ohio County, and the International Bluegrass Museum and Hall of Fame is in Owensboro, Kentucky. Hopefully, once we get this plan from the Department of Commerce, we will have opportunities for these venues and the Tennessee mountains, Kentucky flatlands, all over, to show what they can do in music. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.”
Official Congressional Record
Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, my friend mentioned the music coming out of her beloved mountains of Kentucky, such as Chris Stapleton, Loretta Lynn, Dwight Yoakam, and Keith Whitley. I could go on and on. Madam Speaker, people from our Appalachia area call my area flatland. Flatlanders have bluegrass music. Bluegrass music came from my district. Bill Monroe is from Jerusalem Ridge in Ohio County, and the International Bluegrass Museum and Hall of Fame is in Owensboro, Kentucky. Hopefully, once we get this plan from the Department of Commerce, we will have opportunities for these venues and the Tennessee mountains, Kentucky flatlands, all over, to show what they can do in music. Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
