ASTA promotes and defends the travel agency community at all levels of government and within every segment of the travel industry. Our advocacy team constantly tracks and fights regulatory and legislative threats that could negatively impact you and your clients and empowers you to effectively join our efforts.
Our advocacy team meets year-round with legislators and regulators to educate them about our industry and persuade them to support our initiatives, but we are much more effective when you—their constituents—are speaking out alongside us. ASTA is here to fight for you, but we can’t do it without your support. See how easy and rewarding it is to get involved. If you're not at the table, you're on the menu.
We’ve created an easy-to-use set of tools to empower you to augment our advocacy efforts efficiently and effectively. A simple effective first step is to sign up and respond to our advocacy alerts. This will enable you to speak out on critical issues with customizable, click-and-sign messages that we automatically route to your representatives.
If you decide you want to get involved in a more hands-on way by meeting in person or virtually with your state or federal officials, we’re here to help and we put the most persuasive facts and figures at your fingertips.
Advocacy Documents
Do you know how big the travel agency industry is in your state? What is the projected economic impact on the industry of pending legislation? Your federal and state representatives take your concerns seriously when they understand how important our industry is to their constituency and the potential effects of their decisions. Our fact sheets can answer these questions and more.
November 18 - Federal Court Overturns DOL Final Rule on Overtime
November 6 - Post-Election Update from ASTA
September 17 - Travel Advisors Gather in Washington, D.C. for Annual Advocacy Event
June 6 - Miles Saved. Mission Accomplished.
May 23 - Department of Transportation Issues Final Rule on Ancillary Fees
May 10 - ASTA Update on FAA Reauthorization Bill
May 9 - ASTA Offers Testimony Before Joint Hearing of DOT and CFPB on Airline and Credit Card Rewards Programs
February 22 - A message from Zane Kerby on the latest development with NDC and AAdvantage
January 18 - Department of Labor Issues Final Rule on Worker Classification
September 8 - DOL Issues Proposed Overtime Rule
July 31 - ASTA Lodges Complaint with DOT Concerning NDC Implementation; Demands AA Restore Access to All Fares
April 5 - Update on ASTA Action Related to American Airlines' NDC
November 21 - Further Insights on 2022 Election Impact on Our Industry
November 10 - The 2022 Midterm Elections and the Impact on the Travel Industry
October 4 - Update on Department of Transportation Airline Refunds Proposal
August 8 - Member Notice on Airline Refunds Rulemaking August 2022
November 7 - ASTA Joins Coalition in Asking for Delay in Overtime Rule
Aug 2 - Congressional Letter to DOT on Timely Refunds
June 12 - ASTA Joins Coalition in Letter to Urge DOL to Delay Implementation of Overtime Rule
May 22 - ASTA Asks DOT for Swift Action on FAA Regulations
May 9 - ASTA Requests Federal Trade Commission Review AA's Anti-Competitive Behavior
April 3 - ASTA to FAA Reauthorization Conference Committee Members
April 1 - FAA Coalition Letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
April 1 - ASTA Joins Coalition in Letter to Senate Commerce Committee
March 6 - ASTA Joins Coalition in Supporting H.R. 7367
February 7 - ASTA to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Regarding FAA Reauthorization Markup
February 6 - ASTA Submits Comments to FTC on Proposed Rule Regarding Junk Fees
Dec 20 - ASTA's Reply to American Airlines
Nov 30 - ASTA Letter in Advance of Congressional Hearing on Consequences of Delaying FAA Reauthorization
Nov 29 - ASTA Letter in Advance of Congressional Hearing on DOL Overtime Rule
Oct 30 - ASTA Submits Comments to DOL on Proposed Overtime Rules
Oct 24 - ASTA Joins Coalition in Calling for Withdrawal of DOL Overtime Proposal
Sep 27 - ASTA Joins Coalition to Support the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act
Sep 25 - Coalition Letter Requesting Delay in DOL Overtime Proposal Comment Period
Sep 22 - ASTA Formal Complaint to DOT over American Airlines Unfair Business Practices
Sep 21 - Employee Retention Tax Credit Availability
July 31 - ASTA Draft Complaint to U.S. Department of Transportation re: American Airlines NDC Implementation
July 19 - ASTA Letter to House in Support of FAA Reauthorization
July 11 - ASTA to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Leadership re FAA Reauthorization (Updated)
July 7 – ASTA Amicus Brief in Havana Docks v. Royal Caribbean et al case (Cuba Travel)
June 13 - ASTA to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Leadership re FAA Reauthorization
June 12 - ASTA to House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Leadership re FAA Reauthorization
May 30 - Coalition Letter re: USDOL’s Anticipated Overtime Regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act
March 30 - ASTA to U.S. Department of Justice re American Airlines NDC Implementation
March 28 - ASTA to U.S. Department of Transportation re American Airlines NDC Implementation
March 15 - ASTA to U.S. Department of Commerce re COVID-19 Impact on Travel Agencies
February 24 - ASTA to House & Senate Authorizing Committees re FAA Reauthorization
February 3 - ASTA Comments on DOT Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee Deliberations on Refund/Airline Fee Proposals
January 23 - ASTA Comments to USDOT on Airline Ancillary Fee Transparency
December 15 - ASTA Letter to Senate re: Visit America Act (S. 3375)
December 14 - ASTA Comments to USDOT on Airline Refunds and Consumer Protections
December 13 - ASTA Comments to USDOL on Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
December 8 - ASTA Statement before DOT Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee on Airline Fees
November 17 - TTA-ASTA-GBTA Extension Request for Ancillary Fees NPRM
November 7 - ERTC Coalition Delayed Payments Letter to IRS
October 25 - CBP Stakeholders FY23 Omnibus Letter
September 29 - ASTA Extension Request for DOT Airline Ticket Refunds and Consumer Protections NPRM
September 22 - ASTA Letter to House Energy & Commerce Committee on HR 6965
September 8 - ASTA Statement before DOT Aviation Consumer Protection Advisory Committee on Airline Refunds
June 7 - ASTA Letter to Senate Trade and Tourism Subcommittee
June 2 - ERTCA Best Viable Option for Relief
April 13 - ASTA Relief Letter to Senate Leadership
April 13 - ASTA to WH Ashish Jha re Inbound Testing Order
April 7 - ASTA letter HR 3807
March 31 - Travel and Tourism Letter for DOC nominee Grant Harris
March 21 - Coalition Letter on Customs and Broder Protection (CBP) Staffing
March 9 - ASTA to Kentucky Legislative Leadership re Sales Tax on Services
March 2 - ASTA to Congressional Leadership re Relief + ERTC
February 28 - Coalition Letter Urging Inclusion of ERTCRA in Omnibus
February 11 - ASTA Comments on National Travel and Tourism Strategy
February 3 - Coalition Letter to USG re: Removal of Pre-Departure Testing for Vaccinated Travelers
February 1 - ASTA to White House Jeff Zients re Inbound Testing Order
January 25 - ASTA to Sen Scott re Cuba Travel
January 21 - Travel Industry to Congress: Provide Relief, Restore Travel Demand
January 19 - Coalition Letter on Employee Retention Tax Credit Reinstatement Act (H.R.6161)
December 15 - ASTA to Congress re: Employee Retention Tax Credit/Congressional Adjournment
December 15 - ASTA to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation re: S.3375, Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act of 2021
November 19 - Coalition Letter on Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Staffing
September 27 - ASTA Comments to U.S. Department of Transportation on Ancillary Fee Refund Proposal
September 21 - ASTA to U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade and Export Promotion re: Legislative Solutions to Revive Travel and Create Jobs
August 31 - ASTA to Senate Finance, House Ways & Means Committee re: ERTC Restoration
July 28 - ASTA Letter of Opposition to New Hampshire HB 15 (Hotel Occupancy Tax)
June 10 - ASTA-ACTA Letter on Restarting U.S.-Canada Travel
May 20 - ASTA Amicus Brief in State of Florida vs. Becerra et al case (CDC Cruise Restrictions)
May 3 - Coalition Letter on U.S.-U.K. Travel Restart
April 15 - ASTA to Minnesota Senate Finance Committee re: Tourism Relief Funding
April 14 - ASTA Comments on Department of Labor Proposal re: Withdrawal of Independent Contractor Rule
April 7 - ASTA Letter to Jeffrey Zients WH COVID Response Team
March 29 - ASTA Letter to National Conference of State Legislatures re: American Rescue Plan Funds
March 29 - ASTA Letter to National Governors Association re: American Rescue Plan Funds
March 25 - ASTA Letter of opposition to Texas HB 2889 (Hotel Occupancy Tax)
March 22 - Coalition Letter on International Travel Restart
March 10 - Coalition Letter on Digital Health Passport Standards
March 2 - ASTA Letter of Opposition to Montana SB 52 (Hotel Occupancy Tax)
March 1 - American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) – Requests for COVID Relief
February 26 - Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act of 2021
February 24 - South Florida Travel Agency Leaders to Florida Congressional Delegation re: COVID Relief
February 9 - ASTA to CDC Director Walensky re Standards for Resuming Travel
February 8 - American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) – Requests for COVID Relief - February 2021
February 1 - Coalition Letter on COVID Liability Protections
February 1 - Coalition Letter on COVID Testing for Domestic Flights
January 27 - ASTA Letter of Opposition to New Hampshire HB 15 (Hotel Occupancy Tax)
January 26 - ASTA Letter of Opposition to Virginia SB 1398 (Hotel Occupancy Tax)
January 14 - ASTA to CDC Director Redfield re Jan 12 Testing Order
December 22 - ASTA to President-Elect Biden re: 2021 Regulatory Priorities
December 9 - American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) - Request for COVID Relief
December 3 - Coalition Letter on PPP Loan Deductibility
December 1 - Coalition Letter on PPP Renewal, Deductibility & Forgiveness
October 26 - ASTA Comments on USDOL Proposal re: Independent Contractor Classification
October 22 - Coalition Letter on Safe Alternatives to Travel Quarantines
October 14 - ASTA Letter to Governor Cuomo (NY) re: International Travel Quarantines
October 6 - ASTA Letter to Congressional Leadership re: COVID Relief Priorities
October 1 - Coalition Letter Demanding Immediate Congressional Action on COVID Relief
September 21 - ASTA Comments on CDC Request for Information on Cruising
September 10 - Aviation Coalition Letter on Restarting International Travel
August 10 - ASTA Coronavirus Relief Priorities
August 5 - ASTA to Authorizing Committees re Ticket Agent Loans
June 9 - ASTA to CDC Director Redfield re Restarting Travel
May 29 - ASTA to Asst Secretary Risch re Passport Operations
May 27 - Coalition Coronavirus Liability Protection to Congress
May 26 - ASTA to Rep Rooney Thank You DOL Blacklist
May 15 - ASTA SBA PPP Filing
May 11 - ASTA to NY City Council re: Earned Safe and Sick Time Act
May 11 - Industry Liability Letter
April 14 - ASTA Coronavirus Relief Round 4 Request to Congress
March 31 - ASTA to Treasury Ticket Agent Loans
March 30 - ASTA to Treasury RE: Ticket Agent Loans
March 21 - Travel Agency Congressional Request Sign-On Letter
March 20 - ASTA to Congressional Leadership Coronavirus Response
March 19 - ASTA Coronavirus Relief Request to Congress
March 19 - ASTA to House Small Business Committee RE: Coronavirus Relief
March 19 - Aviation Coalition Coronavirus Relief Letter
March 10 - Jay Ellenby, Safe Harbors Business Travel Group (Bel Air, MD) Oral Testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business
March 10 - Jay Ellenby, Safe Harbors Business Travel Group (Bel Air, MD) Written Testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business
March 2 - Alvin Adriano, Travelwise International (Fort Washington, MD) Testimony before the Maryland House Ways and Means Committee
March 2 - Jay Ellenby, Safe Harbors Business Travel Group (Bel Air, MD) Testimony before the Maryland House Ways and Means Committee
Brochures and Annual Reports
ASTA's downloadable library includes brochures, annual reports and research reports including research conducted by ASTA and third-party studies commissioned by ASTA.
Advocacy Video Library
Our advocacy video library is the place to learn about more about our work from elected officials, journalists, our advocacy team, and Legislative Day member-participants. If you’re thinking of attending Legislative Day. This is a great first stop.
ASTA Legislative Day 2023
ASTA Legislative Day 2022
ASTA Legislative Day 2021
About ASTAPAC
