NBTA Presents Founders Award at Annual Legislative Summit
CONTACT: Caleb Tiller | 703-684-0836 Ext. 138
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| Speaking at NBTA Legislative Summit: Rep Tom Davis (top); Rep John Mica (bottom) |
Washington, DC (May 19, 2005) -- Members of the National Business Travel Association (NBTA) gathered yesterday in Washington, DC to educate their Senators’ and Congressmen’s offices about the negative impact of travel-related taxes and fees on business travel and on the economy. NBTA’s Third Annual Legislative Summit drew more than 40 members of the leading travel management organization, who focused their lobbying message on the recent Administration proposal to increase the air travel security tax without increasing funding for air security programs or improving security.
Noting that the taxes and fees paid on the average air ticket total 26% of the ticket cost, which is higher than so-called sin taxes paid on alcohol and tobacco products, participants in the NBTA Legislative Summit took up the rallying cry, “Business Travel Is Not A Sin.”
“NBTA is in a unique position to be the voice of corporate travel in Washington, and we are most successful in our efforts when members are directly involved,” said Carol A. Devine, CCTE, NBTA president and CEO. “This Legislative Summit provided an opportunity for NBTA members to meet face-to-face with their Senators and Congressmen, or their staff, carrying the message that any policies that negatively impact business travel have a ripple effect that spreads throughout the economy.”
Betty Sweetman, NBTA vice president, and chair of the NBTA Legislative Advisory Council, said, “Based on the meetings we had on the Hill yesterday, I am pleased to say we believe the proposal to increase the air travel security fee will not pass. I want to thank everyone who gave their time and energy to participate in the NBTA Legislative Summit; it is only with this type of dedicated member support that NBTA is so successful. We will honor their efforts by continuing to be vigilant on the security fee proposal and other legislative and regulatory issues affecting business travel.”
In addition to meeting with their own elected officials, participants in the NBTA Legislative Summit were addressed by Congressmen John Mica (R-FL), Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee; Tim Holden (D-PA), member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and Tom Davis (R-VA), Chairman of the House Government Reform Committee. The Congressmen’s presentations demonstrated the diversity of views within Congress on how air travel security should be funded. Question and answer sessions with the Congressmen gave NBTA members additional opportunities to explain that travel security is national security and should be funded as a national security program.
Founders Award
The NBTA Founders Award was presented to Chairman and CEO of the National Transportation Safety Board, the Honorable Ellen Engleman Conner. The award is presented each year during the NBTA Legislative Summit to honor a government leader whose work has improved the ease and safety of travel or has contributed to excellence and innovation in travel-related policy.
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 and government 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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