Congress has passed legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the rest of this fiscal year, ensuring that the agency will continue to operate normally.
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has released a statement expressing support for the measure.
"The Global Business Travel Association is relieved Congress took action to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security through the end of this fiscal year, ensuring that road warriors can continue to travel without disruption," said Michael W. McCormick, executive director and COO of the GBTA. "We are, however, disappointed that the path to a full-year funding bill was fraught with uncertainty.
"Today's vote recognizes the critical need to ensure that the security infrastructure at our nation's airports, ports and border crossings remain fully staffed and 'open for business.' Business travel will account for $310.2 billion in spending during 2015. For every one percent decrease in business travel spending, the U.S. economy could lose an additional 71,000 jobs, nearly $5 billion in GDP, $3 billion in wages and $1.2 billion in tax collections.
"Congress must stop moving from crisis-to-crisis, and instead provide the travel community and travel programs the certainty that they need. Narrowly averting a crisis such as a DHS shutdown sends the wrong signal to businesses.
"Going forward, Congress should continue working together to make sure that DHS, which supports the movement of people, goods and services throughout our transportation system, remains fully funded."
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