Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued a statement on the U.S. House's impending passage of H.R. 2061 restricting government travel:

U.S. Travel Association;
"Unfortunately, the DATA Act is an outdated solution to an even more outdated problem. Lawmakers are seeking publicity for tackling a number of well-publicized incidents from several years ago in which government travel budgets were unquestionably abused by a few irresponsible parties, but those issues were already addressed by new accountability protocols at the administrative level. And if the goal is to save money, sequestration has already drastically reduced travel budgets until 2021—there's nothing left to cut.

"This bill would only have the effect of hampering government efficiency and productivity, restricting key government functions, and hurting local economies by keeping government dollars in Washington, which is already awash in federal cash. Of course there should be oversight and transparency, but this bill augments neither—it's a slash-and-burn approach undertaken in the complete absence of cost-benefit considerations of the kind that private businesses use and taxpayers deserve.

"The U.S. Travel Association has conducted ample research illustrating the clear benefits of government travel for both the public and private sectors, and I strongly encourage members of Congress to give it a read."

 

The U.S. Travel Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the travel industry that generates $2.0 trillion in economic output and supports 14.6 million jobs. U.S. Travel's mission is to increase travel to and within the United States.