CONTACT: Caleb Tiller | 703-684-0836 Ext. 138
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Ellen Engleman Conners;
NTSB Chairman Designate |
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John Mica; Chairman, House Aviation Subcommittee |
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Tom Davis; Chairman, House Government Reform Committee |
Alexandria, VA (May 4, 2005) -- The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) will welcome National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Designate, Ellen Engleman Conners; Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, John Mica; and Chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, Tom Davis as speakers at the third annual Legislative Summit May 17-18, 2005.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our members,” said NBTA Executive Director and COO, Bill Connors, CTC. “Chairman Designate Engleman Conners and Congressmen Mica and Davis are crucial players in the development and implementation of policy that impacts business travel, and we look forward to meeting with them. With the addition of these amazing guest speakers, I have no doubt this will be our best summit yet.”
The NBTA Legislative Summit brings NBTA members to Washington, D.C. to be a part of the legislative process and to lobby their individual members of Congress. This year’s lobbying topic will be “Business Travel is Not a Sin,” focusing on the over-taxation of the business traveler.
NBTA is strongly opposed to any increase in the security fee currently charged on airline tickets. The proposed increase of the air traveler security fee would cost business travelers and their companies an additional $400 million each year. This tax increase would be on top of the existing 26% tax burden on the average domestic ticket, which is a higher tax rate than the so-called sin taxes on alcohol and cigarettes. Imposing such an increase just as the aviation industry is beginning to recover from the toughest period in its history is not only unfair, but reckless. Business travel is an essential component to the American economic engine and should not be discouraged by an overbearing tax structure.
”Ever-increasing travel taxes and fees is a critical issue to our members as it affects the bottom line of the entire business travel industry,” continued NBTA's Connors. “Our legislative summit provides NBTA members with a unique ability to influence the future of their businesses and make their voices heard on Capitol Hill.”
The National Business Travel Association is the source for critical information on the business travel industry. For more than 35 years, NBTA has dedicated itself to the professional development of its members through advocacy, education and training, and networking opportunities. NBTA represents over 2,500 corporate travel managers and travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than $170 billion of expenditures within the business travel industry. For more on NBTA, visit www.nbta.org.
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