[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.
____________________