[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 397 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 397

                   Supporting National Tourism Week.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 7, 2002

   Mr. Foley (for himself and Mr. Farr of California) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
                   Supporting National Tourism Week.

Whereas travel and tourism has a major impact on the economy of the United 
        States as the third-largest retail sales industry in the Nation;
Whereas 1 out of every 7 people employed in the United States civilian labor 
        force is employed in the travel and tourism industry;
Whereas international travel to the United States is the largest service export, 
        having generated a trade surplus for 13 consecutive years;
Whereas domestic and international travel generated an estimated $545 billion in 
        expenditures in 2001, supporting more than 7.8 million jobs, and 
        creating more than $94.4 billion in tax revenue for Federal, State, and 
        local governments;
Whereas the slowing of the United States economy and the horrific terrorist 
        attacks of September 11, 2001, have had a tremendous negative effect on 
        the tourism industry;
Whereas according to the Travel Industry Association, the travel and tourism 
        industry could suffer as much as a $43 billion decrease in spending from 
        domestic and international travelers due to the September 11, 2001, 
        attacks;
Whereas the Department of Commerce has issued preliminary figures indicating 
        that international travel to the United States decreased 11 percent 
        between 2000 and 2001, resulting in a 45-percent decrease in the travel 
        trade surplus (from $14 billion to $7.7 billion), and that it may take 3 
        years for international travel to return to the 2000 level;
Whereas decreased spending in 2001 caused the travel and tourism industry to 
        lose an estimated 600,000 jobs, and resulted in an estimated 3-percent 
        decrease in tax revenues from the industry;
Whereas National Tourism Week was established by Congress in 1983, and first 
        celebrated in May 1984, when President Ronald Reagan signed a 
        Presidential proclamation urging citizens to observe the week with 
        appropriate ceremonies and activities;
Whereas since 1984, National Tourism Week has been celebrated each May by the 
        Travel Industry Association of America, as well as many States, cities, 
        and other travel industry associations; and
Whereas May 4 to 12, 2002, is National Tourism Week: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) supports National Tourism Week; and
            (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling upon the people of the United States and interested 
        groups to observe National Tourism Week with appropriate 
        ceremonies and activities.
                                 <all>