Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) will assume the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Roger Dow, president of the U.S. Travel Association, praised her work on expansion of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
Mikulski was selected as the new Appropriations Committee Chairwoman by her colleagues in the Democratic Caucus. She is the first woman and the first Senator from Maryland to serve as Chairwoman of the Committee. Mikulski succeeds Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), who passed away on Monday, December 17, 2012.
"Sen. Mikulski has long championed travel in Maryland and across the nation. From export promotion to transportation infrastructure, Sen. Mikulski is a thoughtful and tireless advocate for the business and leisure traveler – and the scores of middle-class American jobs generated by this commerce," Dow said in a statement.
"Over just this past year, Sen. Mikulski has demonstrated singular leadership on a top travel priority, expansion of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The VWP is a critical homeland security program that also attracts inbound overseas visitors to the United States – visitors who spend more than $4,000 each while here and who return home with a much better appreciation for our values and culture. No one has fought harder for these reforms than Sen. Mikulski, but that comes as no surprise given her vision and work ethic, " Dow said.
"We look forward to continuing to work closely with Sen. Mikulski and wish her a long and productive tenure as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee."
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