Travel Promotion Act of 2009

Travel Promotion Act of 2009
Enacted by	the 111th United States Congress
Citations
Public law	111-145
Codification
Titles amended	8 U.S.C.: Aliens and Nationality; 22 U.S.C.: Foreign Relations and Intercourse
U.S.C. sections created	22 U.S.C. § 2123, § 2123a, § 2131
U.S.C. sections amended	8 U.S.C. § 1187(h)(3)(B)
Legislative history
	Introduced in the House by Bob Brady (D–PA) on March 4, 2009; Committee consideration by House Administration; Passed the House on March 31, 2009 (416–1); Passed the Senate on October 29, 2009 (unanimous consent) with amendment; House agreed to Senate amendment on November 6, 2009 (voice vote) with further amendment; Senate agreed to House amendment on February 25, 2010 (78–18); Signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 4, 2010;

The Travel Promotion Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111–145 (text) (PDF), Sec. 9) is a law creating the Corporation for Travel Promotion (d.b.a. Brand USA), a public-private partnership tasked with promoting tourism in the United States. To fund the Corporation's activities, the Act provides for a fee of $10 for use of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Additionally, the Act authorizes a further charge to recover the costs of providing and administrating the ESTA.

The House passed the bill by a vote of 358–66 in October 2009, and the Senate followed on February 25, 2010 with a vote of 78–18. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law on March 4, 2010.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has announced they will levy an additional $4 fee (bringing the total to $14) for visitors to the United States for the cost of administering the ESTA.

The reactions of the European Union have been critical and suggestions of a similar fee have been raised on grounds of reciprocity.