[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2579 Reported in House (RH)]
Union Calendar No. 458
104th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2579
[Report No. 104-839, Part I]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the National Tourism Board and the National Tourism
Organization to promote international travel and tourism to the United
States.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 25, 1996
Reported from the Committee on Commerce with an amendment
Referral to the Committee on International Relations extended for a
period not later than September 25, 1996
The Committee on International Relations discharged; committed to the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to
be printed
Union Calendar No. 458
104th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 2579
[Report No. 104-839, Part I]
To establish the National Tourism Board and the National Tourism
Organization to promote international travel and tourism to the United
States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 2, 1995
Mr. Roth (for himself, Mr. Skelton, Mr. Clement, Mr. Petri, Mrs.
Morella, Mr. Frazer, Mr. Gejdenson, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Abercrombie, Mr.
Oxley, Mrs. Vucanovich, Mr. Zeliff, Mr. Boehlert, Mr. Burton of
Indiana, Mr. Doolittle, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Roemer, Mrs. Seastrand, Mr.
McCollum, Mr. Pickett, Mr. Oberstar, and Mr. Farr of California)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on International Relations,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
September 25, 1996
Additional sponsors: Mr. Houghton, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Underwood, Ms.
Greene of Utah, Mr. Bateman, Ms. Norton, Mr. Gekas, Mr. Barcia, Mr.
Richardson, Mr. Frost, Mr. Foley, Mr. Towns, Mr. Pete Geren of Texas,
Mr. Rangel, Mr. Bereuter, Mr. Cramer, Mrs. Meyers of Kansas, Mr.
Luther, Mr. Canady of Florida, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Manton, Mr.
Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Bunn of Oregon, Mr. Kennedy of Rhode
Island, Mr. Dickey, Mr. de la Garza, Mr. Stupak, Ms. Furse, Mr.
Lipinski, Mr. Johnston of Florida, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Brewster, Mr.
Coyne, Mr. Romero-Barcelo, Mr. Costello, Mr. Bevill, Mr. Tucker, Mr.
Hilliard, Mr. Gene Green of Texas, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Jefferson, Mr.
Gordon, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Baker of Louisiana, Mr. Reed, Mr. Crapo, Mr.
Callahan, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Tejeda, Mr. Cooley of Oregon, Mr. Deutsch,
Mr. Hall of Texas, Mr. Fox of Pennsylvania, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Lewis of
Georgia, Ms. Dunn of Washington, Mr. Clinger, Mr. Hobson, Mr. Riggs,
Mr. Cunningham, Mrs. Kelly, Mr. Castle, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Bono, Mr.
Bartlett of Maryland, Mr. Dornan, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Tauzin, Mr.
Bishop, Mr. English of Pennsylvania, Mr. Fazio of California, Ms.
Harman, Mr. Scott, Mr. Souder, Mr. Wamp, Mr. Payne of New Jersey, Mr.
Miller of California, Mr. Waxman, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Rahall, Mr. Frank of
Massachusetts, Mr. Quillen, Mr. Evans, Mr. Engel, Mr. Hayworth, Mr.
Wolf, Mr. Bilbray, Mr. Crane, Mrs. Mink of Hawaii, Mr. Hansen, Mr.
Dellums, Mr. Foglietta, Mr. Orton, Mr. LaTourette, Mr. Filner, Mr.
Largent, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Payne of Virginia, Mr. Spratt, Mr.
Borski, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Flanagan, Mr. Moran, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Gillmor, Mr.
LaHood, Mr. Quinn, Mr. Poshard, Mr. Emerson, Mr. Sanford, Mr. LaFalce,
Mr. Lucas of Oklahoma, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Peterson of Minnesota, Mr.
Bilirakis, Mr. Fattah, Mr. Franks of Connecticut, Mr. Weller, Mr.
Barrett of Nebraska, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Browder, Mr. Brown
of Ohio, Mr. Parker, Mr. Ramstad, Mrs. Johnson of Connecticut, Mr.
Frisa, Mr. Lewis of Kentucky, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. LoBiondo, Ms. Pryce, Ms.
Lofgren, Mr. Olver, Mr. Doyle, Mr. Porter, Mr. Weldon of Pennsylvania,
Mrs. Collins of Illinois, Mr. Clyburn, Mrs. Kennelly, Mr. Campbell, Mr.
Leach, Mr. Ward, Mr. Bachus, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Metcalf, Mr.
McHale, Mr. Studds, Mr. Kingston, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Hoyer, Ms. Pelosi,
Mr. Mica, Mr. Jones, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Stenholm, Mr. Bunning of Kentucky,
Mr. Dicks, Mr. Gilchrest, Mr. King, Mr. Pallone, Mr. McDermott, Mr.
Traficant, Mr. Holden, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Hall of Ohio, Mr. Smith of New
Jersey, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Bryant of Tennessee, Mr. Torres, Mr. Matsui,
Mr. Shays, Mr. Kildee, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Taylor of North Carolina, Mr.
Jackson of Illinois, Ms. McKinney, Mr. Longley, Mr. Skaggs, Mr.
Gunderson, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Hefley, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Sawyer, Mr.
Burr, Mr. White, Mr. Spence, Mr. Graham, Mr. Rush, Mr. Collins of
Georgia, Mr. Talent, Mr. Davis, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Laughlin, Mr. Zimmer,
Mr. Torkildsen, Mr. Ehrlich, Mr. Manzullo, Mr. Linder, Mr. Everett, Mr.
Taylor of Mississippi, Mr. Visclosky, Mr. Kim, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr.
McHugh, Mr. Funderburk, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr.
Norwood, Mr. Schaefer, Mr. Blute, Mr. Tanner, Mr. Goodlatte, Mr. Shaw,
Mr. Latham, Mr. Pastor, Mr. Upton, Mr. Minge, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Horn, Mr.
Baldacci, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Pomeroy, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. Meek of
Florida, Mr. Sisisky, Mr. Volkmer, Mr. Wise, Mr. Martini, Mr. Mollohan,
Mr. McInnis, Mr. Gutknecht, Mr. Neal of Massachusetts, Mrs. Schroeder,
Mr. Skeen, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Calvert, Mr.
Hoke, Mr. Fawell, Mr. Lazio of New York, Mr. Camp, and Mr. Deal of
Georgia
September 25, 1996
Reported from the Committee on Commerce with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
September 25, 1996
Referral to the Committee on International Relations extended for a
period not later than September 25, 1996
September 25, 1996
The Committee on International Relations discharged; committed to the
Committee of The Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to
be printed
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on
November 2, 1995]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the National Tourism Board and the National Tourism
Organization to promote international travel and tourism to the United
States.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``United States National Tourism
Organization Act of 1996''.
SEC. 2. UNITED STATES NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION.
(a) Establishment.--There is established with a Federal charter the
United States National Tourism Organization. The Organization shall be
a private not-for-profit organization. The Organization shall not be
considered a Federal agency.
(b) Duties.--The Organization shall--
(1) seek to, and work for, an increase in the share of the
United States in the global tourism market;
(2) develop and implement a national travel and tourism
strategy;
(3) advise the President, the Congress, and the domestic
travel and tourism industry on the implementation of the
national travel and tourism strategy and on other matters
affecting travel and tourism;
(4) operate travel and tourism promotion programs outside
the United States in partnership with the travel and tourism
industry in the United States;
(5) conduct market research necessary for effective
promotion of the travel and tourism market; and
(6) promote United States travel and tourism at
international trade shows.
(c) Powers.--The Organization--
(1) may sue and be sued, make contracts, acquire, hold, and
dispose of real and personal property as may be necessary for
its corporate purposes;
(2) may provide financial assistance to any organization or
association in furtherance of the purpose of the corporation;
(3) may adopt and alter a corporate seal;
(4) may establish and maintain offices for the conduct of
the affairs of the Organization; and
(5) may conduct any and all acts necessary and proper to
carry out the purposes of this Act.
(d) Funding.--The Organization may accept financial contributions,
and may accept gifts, legacies, and devices in furtherance of the
purposes of this Act. The Organization may also accept such
contributions on behalf of the Board to cover the expenses of the
Board.
(e) Political Activities Prohibited.--The Organization shall not
engage in any activities designed in part or in whole to promote a
political party or the candidacy of any person seeking or holding
political office.
SEC. 3. UNITED STATES NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION BOARD.
(a) Establishment.--There is established the United States National
Tourism Organization Board for the purposes of governing and
supervising the activities of the Organization.
(b) Members.--The Board members shall be initially appointed or
elected as follows:
(1) The Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade
of the Department of Commerce shall serve as a member ex
officio;
(2) 5 State Travel Directors elected by the National
Council of State Travel Directors;
(3) 5 members elected by the International Association of
Convention and Visitors Bureaus;
(4) 3 members elected by the Air Transport Association;
(5) 1 member elected by the National Association of
Recreational Vehicle Parks and Campgrounds; 1 member elected by
the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association;
(6) 2 members elected by the International Association of
Amusement Parks and Attractions;
(7) 3 members appointed by major companies in the travel
payments industry;
(8) 5 members elected by the American Hotel and Motel
Association;
(9) 2 members elected by the American Car Rental
Association; 1 member elected by the American Automobile
Association; 1 member elected by the American Bus Association;
1 member elected by Amtrak;
(10) 1 member elected by the American Society of Travel
Agents and 1 member elected by the Association of Retail Travel
Agents;
(11) 1 member elected by the National Tour Association; 1
member elected by the United States Tour Operators Association;
(12) 1 member elected by the Cruise Lines International
Association, 1 member elected by the National Restaurant
Association, one member elected by the National Park
Hospitality Association, 1 member elected by the Airports
Council International; 1 member elected by the Meeting
Professionals International, 1 member elected by the American
Sightseeing International, and 4 members elected by the Travel
Industry Association of America;
(13) 1 member appointed by the Speaker of the House;
(14) 1 member appointed by the Senate majority leader;
(15) 1 member appointed as a representative of the AFL-CIO;
and
(16) 1 member appointed by the National Federation of
Independent Businesses.
(c) Chair.--
(1) Appointment.--The Board shall elect a Chair for a term
of 2 years. If at any time after such initial election there is
a subsequent vacancy in the office of the Chair, the President
of the Organization shall appoint an acting Chair until such
time as the Board reconvenes.
(2) Removal.--Board members may only be removed upon
petition by the appointing official, with such petition
requiring a \2/3\ vote of the Board for the removal to become
effective.
(d) President.--The Board shall appoint and establish the
compensation and duties of a President who shall assist the Chair in
organizing and carrying out the necessary functions of the Board. The
duties of the President shall include serving as a member of the Trade
Promotion Coordinating Committee.
(e) Meetings.--The Board shall meet at the call of the Chair, but
not less frequently than semiannually. The Board must meet within 3
months of appointment of all members, but in any case no later than 6
months after enactment of this Act.
(f) Compensation and Expenses.--The Chair and members of the Board
shall serve without compensation but may be compensated for expenses
incurred in carrying out the duties of the Board.
(g) Duties.--
(1) The Board shall adopt such further bylaws and
delegation of authority for itself and the Organization as it
deems necessary and proper, which shall--
(A) require at least a three-fifths majority vote
for amendment;
(B) set forth the process for the number, terms,
and appointment or election of future Board members,
not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act (other
than subsection (b) of this section);
(C) provide the authority for the hiring and
compensation of additional staff; and
(D) establish the procedures for calling meetings
and providing appropriate notice, including procedures
for closing meetings where confidential information or
strategy will be discussed.
(2) The Board shall designate a place of business for the
receipt of process, subject to the laws of the State or
district so designated, where such laws do not conflict with
the provisions of this Act.
(3) The Board shall present testimony and make available
reports on its findings and recommendations to the Congress and
to legislatures of the States on at least a biannual basis.
(4) Within one year of the date of its first meeting, the
Board shall report to the Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Commerce
on a plan for long-term financing for the Organization, with a
focus on contributions from the private sector and State and
local entities, and, if necessary, make recommendations to the
Congress and the President for further legislation.
(5) The Board may suspend or terminate the existence of the
Organization if sufficient private sector and local and State
government funds are not identified or made available to
continue the Organization's operations.
(6) The Board shall appoint and set the terms for liaisons
to the Tourism Policy Council established under section 302.
SEC. 4. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT COOPERATION.
(a) The Secretary of State, Director of the United States
Information Agency, Secretary of Commerce, the United States Trade
Representative, and the Trade and Development Agency shall--
(1) give priority consideration to recommendations of the
Organization; and
(2) cooperate with the Organization in carrying out its
duties.
(b) The Under Secretary for International Trade, the Assistant
Secretary for Trade Development, the United States and Foreign
Commercial Service, the Director of the United States Information
Agency, the United States Trade Representative, and the Trade and
Development Agency shall report within 2 years of enactment of this
Act, and every 2 years thereafter to the Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Commerce on any
travel and tourism activities carried out with the participation of the
United States Federal Government.
SEC. 5. TRADE PROMOTION COORDINATING COMMITTEE.
Section 2312 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4727)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (c) by adding at the end thereof:
``(6) give priority consideration to the recommendations of
the United States National Tourism Organization.''; and
(2) in paragraph (d)(1) by striking ``and'' in ``(L)'', by
redesignating ``(M)'' as ``(N)'', and by inserting the
following:
``(M) the President of the United States National
Tourism Organization; and''.
SEC. 6. REPEAL OF UNITED STATES TRAVEL AND TOURISM ADMINISTRATION AND
RELATED PROVISIONS.
Sections 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 301, 303, 304, 305, 306, and 307
of the International Travel Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C 2123, 2123a-2123d,
2124, 2124b, 2124c, and 2125-2129) are repealed.
SEC. 7. POWERS AND DUTIES OF SECRETARY OF COMMERCE.
Section 201 of the International Travel Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2122) is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 201. In order to carry out the national tourism policy
established in section 101(b) and by the United States National Tourism
Organization Act of 1996, the Secretary of Commerce (hereafter in this
Act referred to as the `Secretary') shall develop and implement a
comprehensive plan to perform critical tourism promotion functions
which, in the determination of the Secretary, are not being carried out
by the United States National Tourism Organization or other private
sector entities or State governments. Such plan may include programs
to--
``(1) collect and publish comprehensive international
travel and tourism statistics and other marketing information;
``(2) design, implement, and publish international travel
and tourism forecasting models;
``(3) facilitate the reduction or elimination of barriers
to international travel and tourism; and
``(4) work with the United States National Tourism
Organization, the Tourism Policy Council, State tourism
agencies, and Federal agencies in--
``(A) coordinating the Federal implementation of a
national travel and tourism policy;
``(B) representing the United States' international
travel and tourism interests to foreign governments;
and
``(C) maintaining United States participation in
international travel and tourism trade shows and fairs
until such activities can be transferred to such
Organization and other private sector entities.''.
SEC. 8. TOURISM POLICY COUNCIL.
Section 302 of the International Travel Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2124a) is repealed and the following is inserted:
``Sec. 301. (a) In order to ensure that the United States' national
interest in tourism is fully considered in Federal decision making,
there is established a coordinating council to be known as the Tourism
Policy Council (hereafter in this Act referred to as the `Council').
``(b) The Council shall consist of the following individuals:
``(1) The Secretary of Commerce, who shall serve as the
Chairman of the Council.
``(2) The Under Secretary of Commerce for International
Trade.
``(3) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
``(4) The Secretary of State.
``(5) The Secretary of Interior.
``(6) The Secretary of Labor.
``(7) The Secretary of Transportation.
``(8) The Commissioner of the United States Customs
Service.
``(9) The Commissioner of the Immigration and
Naturalization Service.
``(10) Representatives of other Federal agencies which have
affected interests at each meeting as deemed appropriate and
invited by the Chairman.
``(c) The Chairman is encouraged to consult with, and, to the
extent the Chairman determines is appropriate, invite the direct
participation in Council meetings of, the liaisons to the Council
appointed under section 3(g) of the United States National Tourism
Organization Act of 1996.
``(d) Members of the Council shall serve without additional
compensation.
``(e) The Council shall conduct its first meeting not later than 90
days after the date of the enactment of the United States National
Tourism Organization Act of 1996. Thereafter the Council shall meet not
less than 2 times each year.
``(f)(1) The Council shall coordinate national policies and
programs relating to international travel and tourism, recreation, and
national heritage resources, which involve Federal agencies;
``(2) The Council may request directly from any Federal department
or agency such personnel, information, services, or facilities as
deemed necessary by the Chairman and to the extent permitted by law and
within the limits of available funds.
``(3) Federal departments and agencies may, in their discretion,
detail to temporary duty with the Council such personnel as the
Chairman may request for carrying out the functions of the Council.
Each such detail of personnel shall be without loss of seniority, pay,
or other employee status.
``(g) Where necessary to prevent the public disclosure of non-
public information which may be presented by a Council member, the
Council may hold, at the discretion of the Chairman, a closed meeting
which may exclude any individual who is not an officer or employee of
the United States.
``(h) The Council shall submit an annual report for the preceding
fiscal year to the President for transmittal to the Congress on or
before December 31 of each year. The report shall include--
``(1) a comprehensive and detailed report of the activities
and accomplishments of the Council;
``(2) the results of Council efforts to coordinate the
policies and programs of member's agencies that have a
significant effect on international travel and tourism,
recreation, and national heritage resources, including progress
towards resolving interagency conflicts and development of
cooperative program activity;
``(3) an analysis of problems referred to the Council by
State and local governments, the tourism industry, the United
States National Tourism Organization, the Secretary of
Commerce, along with a detailed summary of any action taken or
anticipated to resolve such problems; and
``(4) any recommendation as deemed appropriate by the
Council.''.
SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act--
(1) the term ``Organization'' means the United States
National Tourism Organization established under section 2; and
(2) the term ``Board'' means the United States National
Tourism Organization Board established under section 3.