[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 126 (Wednesday, September 9, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9158]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRAVEL PROMOTIONS ACT OF 2009--Continued

  Mr. COBURN. Mr. President, we are going through a travel and tourism 
bill. I know my leader is coming to say some words on the Senate floor, 
but I had a couple questions the authors of the bill have not answered 
satisfactorily. One is they create a new corporation for travel 
promotion and they create a new travel and advisory board, but there is 
already a travel and advisory board within the Commerce Department. 
There is nothing in this bill that eliminates this duplicative function 
that is already there. If, in fact, the intent of the bill is to 
promote, as they say it is, travel and tourism, one of the things we do 
not want to do is have duplicative agencies doing exactly the same 
thing, wasting the taxpayers' money. It is about $67 million that will 
go down the drain if, in fact, we do not eliminate the duplicative 
section of this bill.
  The second point I would make is you are going to spend $12 million a 
year just on this one advisory board. The third point I will make 
refers to a letter from the European Union noticing that the visa fees 
we plan on placing with this bill will cause a negative reaction from 
them and a reciprocal institution of visa fees through the European 
Union.
  I make those points and hope the authors of the bill will answer, for 
the American people, the $67 million waste in this bill that is going 
to occur if they do not eliminate programs that are already out there 
for which they are creating duplicate agencies.
  I yield the floor and ask unanimous consent to have the letter 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:
                                                    June 18, 2009.
     Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton,
     Secretary of State, Department of State, Washington, DC.
       Dear Madam Secretary, As you are most certainly aware, the 
     U.S. Travel Promotion Act is currently under consideration in 
     Congress (S.1023). On 16 June 2009, the Senate voted 90:3 for 
     the bill to proceed and a final vote is expected any day now. 
     If this bill were to enter into force, DHS would be required 
     to ask travellers to the U.S. upon their application for an 
     Electronic (System for) Travel Authorization (ESTA) to pay at 
     least $10 which would be used to finance a Travel Promotion 
     Fund as well as the operational costs of ESTA.
       We are concerned that this draft legislation is not 
     compatible with our common goal to facilitate transatlantic 
     trade and travel. We believe it would constitute a step 
     backwards in our joint endeavour to ease transatlantic 
     mobility. This fee is likely to discourage the use of ESTA 
     well in advance of travel, thereby undermining the security 
     objectives of the system. Moreover, it risks being perceived 
     as a visa fee in disguise and would lead to calls for the 
     European Commission to re-examine the issue of whether the 
     ESTA is tantamount to a visa or not, with potentially 
     negative implications on reciprocal visa-free travel between 
     the EU and the U.S. Besides, taxing foreign travellers to 
     promote tourism seems peculiar and public perceptions might 
     lead to less, not more travel to the U.S.
       We understand that the Administration also has concerns 
     with this bill. We would therefore urge you to make your 
     formal position known to Congress, so as to avoid the passing 
     of legislation which may unnecessarily deter legitimate 
     transatlantic travel for business and tourism.
       We thank you for your consideration and look forward to 
     further strengthening transatlantic relations in the years to 
     come.
           Sincerely,
     Petr Kolar,
       Ambassador, Czech Republic.
     John Bruton,
       Ambassador, European Commission.
     Pontus F Jarborg,
       Charge d'Affaires a.i., Sweden.

  Mr. COBURN. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Will the Senator withhold his suggestion?
  Mr. COBURN. I will.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republican leader is recognized.

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