[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 979 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 979

  To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to encourage Canadian 
                     tourism to the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 7, 2017

  Mr. Sires (for himself and Mr. Yoho) introduced the following bill; 
 which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition 
  to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to encourage Canadian 
                     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 ``Promoting Tourism to Enhance our 
Economy Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. ENCOURAGING CANADIAN TOURISM TO THE UNITED STATES.

    Section 214 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(s) Canadian Retirees.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may 
        admit as a visitor for pleasure as described in section 
        101(a)(15)(B) any alien for a period not to exceed 240 days, if 
        the alien demonstrates, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, 
        that the alien--
                    ``(A) is a citizen of Canada;
                    ``(B) is at least 55 years of age;
                    ``(C) maintains a residence in Canada;
                    ``(D) owns a residence in the United States or has 
                signed a rental agreement for accommodations in the 
                United States for the duration of the alien's stay in 
                the United States;
                    ``(E) is not inadmissible under section 212;
                    ``(F) is not described in any ground of 
                deportability under section 237;
                    ``(G) will not engage in employment or labor for 
                hire in the United States; and
                    ``(H) will not seek any form of assistance or 
                benefit described in section 403(a) of the Personal 
                Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act 
                of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1613(a)).
            ``(2) Spouse.--The spouse of an alien described in 
        paragraph (1) may be admitted under the same terms as the 
        principal alien if the spouse satisfies the requirements of 
        paragraph (1), other than subparagraphs (B) and (D).
            ``(3) Immigrant intent.--In determining eligibility for 
        admission under this subsection, maintenance of a residence in 
        the United States shall not be considered evidence of intent by 
        the alien to abandon the alien's residence in Canada.
            ``(4) Period of admission.--During any single 365-day 
        period, an alien may be admitted as described in section 
        101(a)(15)(B) pursuant to this subsection for a period not to 
        exceed 240 days, beginning on the date of admission. Periods of 
        time spent outside the United States during such 240-day period 
        shall not toll the expiration of such 240-day period.
            ``(5) Non-resident alien tax status.--An alien admitted 
        pursuant to this subsection shall be treated as a nonresident 
        alien for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (other 
        than subtitle B thereof).''.
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