2025 UPDATE:

In the last 118th Congress (Jan 2023 - Jan 2025), we worked with law makers to allow carnivals, food concessions and games to utilize the P4 visa category. This visa has been used for years by circus performers, sports athletes, and entertainers. The program has no cap on it, and clearly, we should have been in this visa program from day one.

Last Congress, OABA delivered the first and only stand-alone bills that directly benefit the carnival industry; CARE Act (HR 1787) and Ride Act (S 4040). Through the collaborative advocacy of OABA, IAFE, NICA, SLA, and their memberships', together we gained 78 co-sponsors for HR 1787 in the House and 6 co-sponsors for S 4040 in the Senate. These co-sponsors are from both the Democratic and Republican members that value what we are trying to accomplish.

Although we had adequate support to attach our bills to "must pass" legislation like appropriations bills, because the Republicans took control of both houses of Congress and the White House, Republicans decided to take up spending bills in the NEW 119th Congress beginning in 2025. This means that our bills will have to be re-introduced in the new Congress and assigned new bill numbers.

With the support of our previous co-sponsors, we will continue to add to the list and will be well positioned in 2025/2026 session. This isn't starting over, it's starting on second base as most previous co-sponsors will continue their support by signing on to co-sponsor our new bill numbers as soon as they are assigned.

Please check back for further information.