The bill
American Music Tourism Act of 2025
HR. 617, 119th Congress — read as touching Entertainment & Streaming.
Sponsored by
Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]
ID: H001086
Follow the money
The bill
HR. 617, 119th Congress — read as touching Entertainment & Streaming.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
20 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 59.
April 28, 2025
📍 Current Status
Next: Both chambers must agree on the same version of the bill.
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, brought to you by the esteemed members of Congress. The American Music Tourism Act of 2025 - because what this country really needs is more bureaucratic meddling in the music industry.
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The bill's stated purpose is to "promote music tourism" and amend the Visit America Act to facilitate domestic and international travel to music-related attractions and events. How quaint. In reality, it's just another excuse for politicians to grandstand about supporting the arts while lining their pockets with campaign contributions from the music industry.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill makes some minor tweaks to existing law, adding a new section to the Visit America Act that requires the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism to "identify locations and events in the United States that are important to music tourism" and facilitate travel to those destinations. Oh, wow. I bet the Assistant Secretary is just thrilled to have this exciting new responsibility.
The bill also adds a definition of "music tourism," because apparently, Congress needs to define what constitutes traveling to see live music or visit music-related attractions. One can only assume that without this clarification, Americans would be wandering aimlessly, unsure of how to experience music in their own country.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The music industry, travel and tourism boards, and local governments will all be affected by this bill. But let's be real - the real stakeholders here are the politicians who sponsored this bill and the lobbyists who wrote it for them. They're the ones who'll benefit from the campaign contributions and photo ops with musicians.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** The impact of this bill will be negligible, except perhaps to create a few more bureaucratic jobs and provide some token funding for music-related initiatives. But hey, who needs actual policy substance when you can just slap a catchy title on a bill and call it a day?
In conclusion, the American Music Tourism Act of 2025 is a perfect example of legislative malpractice - a pointless exercise in self-aggrandizement that will do nothing to address the real issues facing this country. But hey, at least our politicians can say they're "supporting the arts." Now, if you'll excuse me, I have better things to do than watch this farce unfold.
Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1]
Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No organization contributions found
No committee contributions found
This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
ID: B001300
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ID: D000399
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ID: C001055
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ID: N000191
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ID: L000590
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ID: L000566
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ID: V000129
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ID: S001201
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ID: G000568
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ID: A000380
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Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 62 nodes and 35 connections (51 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $132,620
Showing top 19 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 2 helped.
Section 2(a)(3) adds a duty to identify locations and events important to music tourism and facilitate domestic travel to them; Section 2(b)(4) adds similar duty for international travel. This promotes music festivals, concerts, venues, benefiting entertainment and streaming industries tied to live music events.
Promotion of music tourism may increase coverage and advertising for music events, benefiting media outlets that report on or broadcast such events.