[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 130 (Wednesday, September 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10097-H10098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL PASSPORT MONTH

  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 554) supporting the goals and ideals 
of National Passport Month.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 554

       Whereas through international travel, Americans can 
     individually play a major role towards improving foreign 
     relations by building bridges and making connections with 
     citizens of other countries;
       Whereas interacting with the global community inspires 
     Americans to reflect on the diverse multi-cultural background 
     that has defined the United States as a great country of 
     cooperation and progress;
       Whereas having a passport and traveling abroad creates 
     connections with the global community, supporting goodwill 
     throughout the world;
       Whereas having a passport and traveling abroad promotes 
     understanding and goodwill throughout the world, opening the 
     doors to increased peace, tolerance, and acceptance;
       Whereas having a passport and traveling abroad opens up a 
     preponderance of educational opportunities and experiences 
     for Americans of all ages;
       Whereas having a passport and traveling abroad enables 
     Americans to see first-hand the effect of the United States 
     on the world, including the tremendous amount of humanitarian 
     aid given by the United States through both public and 
     private sectors;
       Whereas having a passport and traveling abroad reminds 
     Americans that they are members of a global family and gives 
     them opportunities to mend rifts around the world;
       Whereas fewer than 23 percent of Americans have passports, 
     thereby limiting their ability to travel outside the United 
     States;
       Whereas the more Americans travel outside the United 
     States, the more they will experience opportunities to 
     increase their understanding of the world and the place of 
     the United States in it;
       Whereas the creation and support of a National Passport 
     Month signals to Americans the important role they can play 
     as ambassadors for the United States by serving as agents of 
     understanding, tolerance, and mutual respect; and
       Whereas travel publishers along with travel editors from 
     the most prestigious media outlets in the United States, 
     student travel organizations, and book sellers have 
     designated September as ``National Passport Month'' to 
     educate the public about the importance of having a passport 
     and the positive impact international travel has on 
     individuals: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Passport 
     Month; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the Federal Government, States, localities, 
     schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, other entities, 
     and the people of the United States to observe National 
     Passport Month with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and 
     activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Vermont (Mr. Welch) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Vermont.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore: Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Vermont?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, as a member of the House 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I am pleased to join my 
colleague in the consideration of H. Res. 554. This supports the goals 
and ideals of National Passport Month. H. Res. 554, with 55 co-
sponsors, was introduced by Representative Barbara Lee on July 27, 
2007. It was reported from the Oversight Committee on August 1, 2007, 
by a voice vote.
  Madam Speaker, the creation and support of a National Passport Month 
signals to Americans the important role they can play as ambassadors 
for the United States by serving as agents of understanding, tolerance 
and mutual respect to citizens of other countries. The use of a 
passport and the desire to travel to other nations will bring personal 
enjoyment, enrichment and interest for both traveler and host, yet less 
than 25 percent of Americans have passports, thereby eliminating their 
ability to travel outside the United States. The passport and traveling 
abroad will create a connection with the global community and support 
goodwill throughout the world.
  Madam Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Barbara Lee 
from California, for supporting the goals and ideals of National 
Passport Month, and I support and urge the swift passage of this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1215

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  September has been recognized by the tourism industry as National 
Passport Month in an effort to educate the public and increase 
awareness of the importance of having passports.
  The tourism industry brings in more than $80 billion annually to the 
U.S. economy. In helping our economy thrive, it also strengthens public 
diplomacy through each visitor. Similarly, Americans can improve 
foreign relations by traveling internationally and meeting with 
citizens of other countries.
  The opportunities to learn different cultures, view history and 
exchange ideas are endless for those having passports. Interacting with 
the global community enables travelers to promote understanding and 
good will.
  National Passport Month educates the public on the value and positive 
impact international travel has on individuals. Without passports, 
these opportunities could not be achieved. So, therefore, Madam 
Speaker, I encourage everyone to support H. Res. 554.

[[Page H10098]]

  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I yield 5\1/2\ minutes to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
  Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, first let me thank the gentleman from Vermont 
(Mr. Welch) for your leadership and for managing the bill, and also for 
your clarity of why we are offering this resolution today and for your 
support. I also thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) for 
your leadership and your support. To the chairman of the committee, 
Chairman Waxman, and our ranking member, Mr. Davis, I commend them and 
thank them for working together to bring this bill to the floor, as 
well as to our leadership.
  Madam Speaker, I want to also express my appreciation to the over 60 
cosponsors of this bipartisan resolution for their support.
  This resolution is extremely straightforward. What it does is detail 
and recognize the value of international travel, and request the 
President to issue a proclamation calling on the Federal Government, 
States, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses and 
other entities and the people of the United States to observe National 
Passport Month with appropriate ceremonies, programs and activities.
  The purpose of National Passport Month is to create a time to educate 
the public about the incredible opportunities available to those who 
obtain passports as well as the positive impact that international 
travel has on individuals and on our country.
  Today, and this is quite a revealing statistic, only about 25 percent 
of Americans have a passport. Twenty-five percent. That means 75 
percent of Americans are limited in their ability to travel abroad 
because they don't have a passport. As a result, they are unable to 
take advantage of the enriching opportunities presented by 
international travel.
  As a member of the State-Foreign Operations Subcommittee of the 
Appropriations Committee, I understand and appreciate the value and 
importance of international travel and the impact of our foreign aid 
and the positive value that our foreign aid brings to those throughout 
the world.
  Many years ago I had the opportunity to live in Great Britain for a 
couple of years, and can say with certainty that there is no substitute 
for the experience you get from visiting other countries, from meeting 
with people, from tasting the food, from interacting with the culture. 
It changes the way we see the world. It broadens our horizons, it 
deepens our appreciation for different countries and cultures and our 
shared humanity. It also helps us to learn, to understand, and to 
tolerate and to mutually respect other cultures. Not only does travel 
provide enriching opportunities for the individual, it can also have 
profound benefits for our Nation as a whole through people-to-people 
contact.
  In addition, having a passport and traveling abroad enables others to 
see our contributions firsthand, including the tremendous amount of 
humanitarian aid given by Americans through the public and private 
sectors.
  Americans of all ages are our best ambassadors, and we should promote 
policies that encourage them to travel, to forge connections with 
people from other countries, to foster mutual understanding and 
tolerance, and to help open new doors for peaceful coexistence.
  The timing of our efforts could not be more critical. I think we all 
recognize that America needs a boost in foreign public opinion, and I 
am confident that connections made with American travelers can and will 
make a huge difference in improving our image abroad. For all of these 
reasons, when Lonely Planet, which I am pleased to say is located in 
Oakland in my district, first raised the idea of a National Passport 
Month, I immediately got it. I embraced it.
  I am proud to have introduced H. Res. 554 and to be a part of this 
campaign to recognize the importance of international travel, and I am 
excited by the support we have received.
  Last year, Lonely Planet presented me with over 5,000 petition 
signatures from people all over our country who support these efforts, 
and this campaign has the support of a broad coalition of over 70 
supporting travel organizations and associations to corporations like 
American Express and Yahoo.
  Moreover, the Department of State is on record in supporting 
September as National Passport Month. Let me just read a quote from 
their letter: ``Since September is a time of the year when schools are 
reopening and many students are considering travel or study abroad, it 
is a highly appropriate month to promote public awareness of the value 
of the United States passport. The Department shares your appreciation 
of the U.S. passport and supports your resolution.''
  Given the recent problems with passport backlogs, this resolution is 
even more timely. The administration must make passports a priority and 
ensure that we have the resources available to process them in a timely 
manner. I thank all of the supporters of this resolution.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WELCH of Vermont. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers on my 
side, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Harman). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 554.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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