[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 156 (Tuesday, October 10, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H9747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       THE UPCOMING WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON TRAVEL AND TOURISM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Everett). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of May 12, 1995, the gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Roth] is 
recognized during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROTH. Mr. Speaker, I want to say something today about a 
worldwide phenomenon that is taking place that we seem to be oblivious 
to, and we should be aware of. That is what is taking place in travel 
and tourism. If you take a look at the jobs, not only in our 
congressional districts but around the country and around the world, 
there is no industry like travel and tourism that is creating jobs and 
meaningful employment for people.
  On October 30 and 31, let me repeat that, on October 30 and 31 of 
this year, of this month, we are going to be convening here in 
Washington the biggest White House conference on travel and tourism 
ever. As chairman of the Travel and Tourism Caucus here in Congress, 
the largest caucus here in Congress, I can vouch for the fact that we 
have not given enough recognition to travel and tourism. Travel and 
tourism does not ask anything from the Government, it just gives to the 
Government. It is the biggest tax producer in America. Tourism in the 
United States is a $360 billion business. It is the Nation's second 
largest employer.
  Travel and tourism is a worldwide phenomenon. Do you know that 10 
percent of all the jobs throughout the world come from the area of 
travel and tourism? It is also the largest producer of taxes in the 
world. Jobs and taxes translate into travel and tourism. This is true 
globally, but it is also true locally for all of us. In every single 
one of the 435 congressional districts, travel and tourism has a 
preponderant, overwhelming influence.
  For example, in my own district in Wisconsin, tourism brought in more 
than $6 billion in States' revenue. That is more than $17 million a 
day, and it puts bread on the table of some 128,000 workers just in our 
State. Just in my district alone, people vacationing and traveling for 
business spend over $700 million every year, and 18,000 new jobs are 
created as a result.
  That is why I want all of our Congressmen to focus in on this 
conference on the 30th and 31st of this month, because it is the first 
time we have had a conference like this. If we want good-paying jobs 
for our people, if we are concerned about what is happening for senior 
citizens and Medicare and Medicaid and so on, we have to have dollars 
to fund those programs. Those dollars come basically from travel and 
tourism. All of us rely on the travel and tourism dollar.
  We in Congress must recognize that industry for the jobs and 
prosperity it creates in our towns, cities, and throughout America, and 
quite frankly throughout the world. I want to do something positive 
here to help our working people. Therefore, I encourage all of you to 
become involved in the Travel and Tourism Caucus. We have some 280 
members in our Travel and Tourism Caucus, but we have 435 Congressmen, 
so in this interim period, between now and the conference, the White 
House conference, I am asking every Member of Congress to join, to 
become a Member of the travel and tourist industry, because we have to 
high-profile this industry.
  It is time for us to get involved. Travel and tourism is the incoming 
economic tide of the future. In every one of our congressional 
districts, in every part of America, in every part of the world, the 
global economy is being influenced by travel and tourism. October 30 
and 31 is when the conference will be held, when we give recognition to 
the men and women who make travel and tourism such a wonderful benefit 
to our districts, our country, and the world.

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