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2005 Legislative Priorities, Background and Activity

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National Commission to Ensure Consumer Information and Choice in the Airline Industry

ASTAPAC (members only)

Government Affairs Coalition Partner
Interactive Travel
Services Association

As the leading advocate for the travel industry, ASTA’s Government Affairs department has enjoyed a successful year defending the rights of travel agents and the traveling public on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures. Representing the One Voice of all members, ASTA’s Government Affairs division has used that One Voice judiciously to advance the cause of the entire industry.

Below you will find a remarkable list of ASTA’s advocacy in action.

ASTA ADVOCACY ACHIEVEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
ONE VOICE 2005

Legislative Accomplishment
Passed legislation preventing the issuance of costly rules requiring written consent before sending commercial faxes.

Legislative Priorities
Permanently extend to consumers the “right to alternate carriage” in the event a bankrupt airline ceases service.
Shift the jurisdiction over travel agencies from the Department of Transportation to the Federal Trade Commission exclusively.
Seek financial relief legislation for travel and tourism entities impacted by Hurricane Katrina.

Testimony before Congressional Committees
Impact Hurricane Katrina had on small businesses and the travel and tourism industry in the Gulf Coast region.
Effects of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requiring U.S. citizens to have passports for exit and entry in the United States and its impact on the travel and tourism industry.
Barriers to service-disabled veteran-owned travel agencies gaining access to federal travel procurement contracts.

ASTA Federal Achievements
Established ASTA as a contributing stakeholder in the Department of Homeland Security’s Secure Flight program.
Defeated proposed DOT rules that would have interfered with travel agent advertising of service fees and prevented collection of some kinds of fees altogether.
Supported SBA effort to change travel agencies size standard from revenue to employee based classification.
Created the Travel Agents’ Guide to Airline Bankruptcies.

ASTA Federal Filings
Departments of Homeland Security/State: Documents Required for Travel Within the Western Hemisphere
Department of Transportation: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel.
Department of Transportation: Disclosure of Code Sharing.
Federal Trade Commission: CAN-SPAM regulations.
Small Business Administration: Size Standards.

ASTA’s State Government Achievements
Averted the adoption of hotel occupancy tax measures on travel intermediaries in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and the city of Millbrae, Calif.
Postponed harmful “Sellers of Travel” legislation in Pennsylvania.

ASTA’s Voice at ARC
Successfully negotiated rules on voiding tickets, leading to better exchange rules.
Delayed the elimination of agency coupons, which led ARC to produce enhancements to the document retrieval service.

ASTA’s Political Action Committee
• Out-paced other travel related industry PAC’s - reached contribution levels not achieved in more than a decade.

Mission & Purpose
»
2005 Government Affairs Activities
»
ASTA Government Affairs White Paper
»
Frequently Asked Questions
»
ASTA Travel Agent Membership Distribution Map PDF 1.6MB
»
2004 Government Affairs Accomplishments
 
Links
»
Detailed Legislative Tracking
»
U.S. Small Business Administration
»
State Department Travel Information
Grassroots
»
Find your Representative: mygov.governmentguide.com
»
Why Grassroots Are Important
Latest ASTA Testimony & Filings
»
ASTA Comments on FCC's Proposed Junk Fax Regulations - Jan 18 PDF
»
ASTA Comments on Petition for Declaratory Ruling on FCC's Proposed Junk Fax Regulations - Jan 12 PDF

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