[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E1826]]



           REVITALIZING TOURISM AND ENSURING AIRPORT SECURITY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL McCOLLUM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 28, 1996

  Mr. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill to 
revitalize the tourism industry and provide for increased airport 
security. Appropriately, it is titled the Tourism Revitalization and 
Airport Security Act of 1996.
  This bill would ensure traveler safety by increasing airport security 
through enhanced bomb detection equipment and additional sniffing dogs. 
Furthermore, it would require additional background checks on employees 
in sensitive areas while beefing up performance standards and audits 
for those employees. This bill would mandate additional FBI involvement 
through periodic threat and vulnerability assessments at high risk 
airports. Mr. Speaker, there are additional provisions that are also 
noteworthy but I would like to specifically point out two innovative 
technologies included in this bill. One is known as IGRIS, which can 
determine the molecular structure of concealed objects. This could be 
handy when someone tries to pass plastic explosives or drugs through 
normal airport x rays. The second is bomb blast containment technology 
which would completely contain a blast inside the luggage compartment--
or anywhere else for that matter--should an explosive actually make it 
onto a plane. Both of these merit further consideration.
  The second thrust of my bill includes ways to revitalize the tourism 
industry which is so vital to the country and my district in Florida, 
the Eighth District and Orlando. Among the provisions in this bill is 
the creation of a National Tourism Board and Organization, a diversion 
of President Clinton's 4.3-cent gas tax hike from general revenue to 
the transportation trust funds where it belongs, a repeal of the unfair 
and crippling aviation fuel tax, the restoration of the business meal 
tax deduction, and a reauthorization of the airline ticket tax. 
Furthermore, this would improve visa programs through extending and 
reforming the visa waiver pilot program in section 217 of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act. It would improve visa issuance by 
increasing staff at busy consular posts in Caracas, Rio de Janeiro, 
Seoul, Brasilia, Sao Paulo, and Taipei.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is about jobs. This bill is about the economy. 
This bill is about airline safety. These are obviously critical for 
anyone, but especially to Florida and Orlando. I urge further 
consideration of these measures and lay them before you today.

                          ____________________