DRAZEN ZIGIC / SHUTTERSTOCK . COM or vaccination status , to take a COVID test 24 hours before departure . When other countries rolled back testing requirements in time for spring breaks and summer travel , the existing requirement put the U . S . at a disadvantage . For Americans , the order presented logistical challenges in finding testing centers abroad and an additional cost burden . It was also the “ last key U . S . travel restriction ” hindering the reopening of the travel industry , according to ASTA .
ASTA campaigned against inbound testing , organizing “ over 100 congressional meetings , 4,000 grassroots emails to the administration , over 7,400 letters to the editor through our grassroots portal and multiple ASTA and coalition letters to administration officials ,” says Klement . “ The constant drumbeat , along with sound policy arguments , led to the requirement ’ s elimination .”
“ When it comes to the government , you face a choice – engage in the process or put your head in the sand ,” says ASTA president and CEO Zane Kerby .
OTHER LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES BENEFITING ADVISORS One of ASTA ’ s goals for the 2022 Legislative Day was to focus on the importance of restoring the Employee Retention Tax Credit ( ERTC ) of up to $ 7,000 per employee per quarter for small businesses . This is important as the majority of travel agencies are small businesses .
“ It was supposed to run through the end of 2021 , but the bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law in November rescinded the credit one quarter early to pay for the legislation ,” explains Klement . “ Travel agencies were counting on the ERTC to help them get through the fourth quarter of 2021 . Losing the credit in the middle of the quarter stopped the recovery process in its tracks .”
The organization also lobbied for the Visit
America Act , introduced by Senator Dan Sullivan , R-AK , on May 27 and rolled into a larger Senate bill , which would establish a comprehensive plan to “ address the declining percentage of international visitors to the United States .” Amid the pandemic , the number of international arrivals to the U . S . fell from 80 million in 2019 to 21.1 million in 2021 , according to a report from the U . S . Department of Commerce .
“ Policymaking is a marathon , not a sprint ,” says Eben Peck , ASTA ’ s executive vice president of advocacy . “ Our goal was to raise awareness about our industry and how COVID restrictions have impacted us and secure support from legislators for policies that will help our members ’ businesses recover . Legislative Day is the most impactful thing our members can do to help make that happen .”
Save the date : Next year ’ s Legislative Day takes place June 20-21 , 2023 .
FALL 2022 / THE COMPASS / 21