Corporate Travel Pros Gather in Washington to Meet with Members of Congress
2008 NBTA Legislative Summit Attendees Discuss Current Legislative Issues Facing the Corporate Travel Industry
The NBTA Legislative Summit, an event organized by the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) this week in Washington, D.C., brought together more than 50 corporate travel professionals from across the United States to learn about current legislative issues facing the corporate travel industry and visit their Congressional offices to encourage support for bills that would advance the business travel agenda.
Washington, D.C. | The NBTA Legislative Summit, an event organized by the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) this week in Washington, D.C., brought together more than 50 corporate travel professionals from across the United States to learn about current legislative issues facing the corporate travel industry and visit their Congressional offices to encourage support for bills that would advance the business travel agenda.
NBTA President & CEO Kevin Maguire, CCTE, said: “As dedicated business travel professionals, we are faced every day with challenges we must conquer to continue effectively managing travel, some of which include government policy issues. We are here at the NBTA Legislative Summit to address current government challenges with our peers, as well as our U.S. Representatives and Senators, and to let them know how they can help their constituents, regional businesses, and the industry as a whole.”
Participants on Tuesday were provided with a detailed overview of how the U.S. political process operates, including an explanation of the progression of legislation from inception to implementation. Attendees also learned effective communications techniques to use with Congressional offices.
Yesterday attendees met with their Congressional offices to discuss and encourage support for two key legislations affecting the corporate travel industry:
the Fair, Accurate, Secure and Timely or FAST Redress Act of 2007, H.R. 4179, which would take significant steps toward alleviating the burden of those passengers who are wrongly placed on terrorist watch lists;
and the End Discriminatory State Taxes on Automobile Renters Act of 2007, H.R. 2453, which would stop governments seeking to fund local projects from targeting people who rent cars.
“These bills, which NBTA has supported from day one, would help to alleviate extra costs and burdens that business travelers and companies are faced with on a daily basis,” said Maguire. “We’ve got to keep them moving through Congress, and I know that everyone here today will do their best to see that happen.”
Featured speakers at the 2008 NBTA Legislative Summit included the Honorable Robert Sturgell, FAA Acting Administrator, Representative Artur Davis (D-AL 7th), and Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY 11th), who authored the FAST Redress Act of 2007.