[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 126 (Wednesday, September 9, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9161-S9166]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRAVEL PROMOTION ACT OF 2009--Continued

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, my understanding is that there is some 
time divided on the issue of the vote on the Travel Promotion Act, and 
let me take as much time as I may consume of that time.
  Earlier today, Senator Kyl and I had a discussion on the floor about 
some statistics and numbers about tourism and travel. I don't want him 
to try to win a debate we are not having because there ought not to be 
a difference with respect to a set of facts. So let me just recite the 
facts.
  I said this morning that on this big-old planet of ours, people are 
traveling more. That is a fact. Tens of millions of people are 
traveling around the world for international tourism purposes, and that 
is very beneficial to the areas where they arrive and do their touring. 
On average, an overseas traveler who comes to the United States spends 
$4,500. It is a very lucrative market to try to attract tourists from 
overseas to come to our country.
  The dilemma is this: While more people are traveling all around the 
globe, and while Japan and Europe, while India and South America and 
many other countries and continents are aggressively advertising, 
asking people to come to their country, promoting their country's 
interests--I have mentioned France, Italy, Germany, India, China, and 
so on--all of them engaged in travel promotion saying: Come to our 
country, enjoy our country, come and see our country, travel to our 
country. It is a relentless bit of promotion by other countries, and 
they are very successful.
  The fact is, more people have been traveling around the globe in 
international tourism, but we have had a reduction of 633,000 people 
coming to this country as compared to 9 years ago. Go back to the year 
2000 and take a look at how many overseas travelers came to this 
country to see America and then fast forward to 2009. There are over 
half a million fewer people coming to our country.
  This legislation we are going to vote on is very simple. It says: 
Let's have a private-public sector partnership that promotes America as 
a destination for international tourism.
  In our earlier discussion, Senator Kyl said we should be dealing with 
the entry process that many have complained about. The fact is, we are 
dealing with that. I have held hearings on that. We have substantially 
changed the waiting time for trying to get a visa to come to the United 
States. Yes, there were long lines, long waits, and much of that has 
been solved and reduced substantially. In fact, the State Department 
says that 90 percent of the consular posts have visa wait times of less 
than 30 days for students and business travelers, just as an example. 
We are making progress in those areas.
  But we should not, in my judgment, allow this issue of promotion of 
foreign and international travel be the province of other countries and 
not us. We ought to be involved. We ought to say to people: You are 
welcome to come to this country. I showed some of the newspaper reports 
in recent years that suggest to people: You are not welcome in America. 
Travel to America? No thanks. Too much of a hassle. In fact, after the 
terrible tragedy of 9/11/2001, we were not encouraging people to come 
to this country at all. In fact, we were suggesting that we were 
worried about people coming into this country. We wanted to make sure 
we were not allowing terrorists in, so we didn't exactly have the 
welcome mat out.
  This legislation now, 8 years later, says: Let's put the welcome mat 
out to say, you know what, you want to compete for international 
tourism? So do we. You want to go see the Eiffel Tower? Well, that is 
fine. How about coming to see the Empire State Building, Theodore 
Roosevelt National Park, Old Faithful, Yellowstone, Las Vegas, the 
Pembina Gorge. How about coming to America to understand the culture of 
America, the values, the character of America.
  One of the things we understand is that when people come here to 
travel across the United States, they leave, having traveled in this 
country, with an unbelievably good impression about what America is. We 
know that because there has been a great deal of polling to understand 
it. So in addition to creating a very substantial number of jobs at a 
time when people have lost their jobs--and by the way, tourism and 
promotion of tourism, especially with overseas travelers who spend a 
lot of money when they come to this country, promotes a substantial 
number of jobs. In addition to that, it promotes dramatic good will all 
around the world about this country of ours.
  So this legislation is very simple. It is bipartisan at a time when 
not very much is bipartisan. It actually saves money. At a time when 
there is concern about spending money, this reduces the budget deficit. 
It doesn't increase it; this actually reduces the budget deficit. At 
the same time, it will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs. So how 
about that--a piece of legislation that is bipartisan, with Republicans 
and Democrats cosponsoring it and bringing it to the floor, it saves 
money rather than adds to the budget deficit, and it produces hundreds 
of thousands of jobs going forward. It seems to me this makes good 
sense for this Congress.
  I am expecting this afternoon--with the help of my colleagues Senator 
Ensign, Senator Klobuchar, Senator Reid, and so many others who have 
worked on this legislation, I am hoping we will get a very strong vote, 
get it to the House of Representatives, and get it signed by the 
President so we can put a lot of people to work in this country as well 
as incentivize people to come to this country to see what it is about, 
and that is an awfully good thing, in my judgment.

[[Page S9162]]

  Let me yield the floor and reserve the remainder of the time. I think 
the Senator from Nevada wishes to speak.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.
  Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, I wish to make a few concluding remarks on 
the Travel Promotion Act.
  First, I thank my colleague from North Dakota, Senator Dorgan. He and 
I have worked very closely, along with our staffs, who have put a lot 
of work into this piece of legislation that we believe is a very good 
for our country. It does several things. First of all, by its very 
nature, it is a bipartisan bill, which doesn't happen around here very 
often anymore. The second thing is it creates jobs. The most important 
thing we need to do in this country right now is to create jobs. My 
home State of Nevada is No. 2 in unemployment rate in the United 
States. We desperately need jobs. We are very dependent on tourism. 
This bill will help create tourism-type jobs. It will create tourism-
type job for States throughout the United States. When people come to 
our country to visit, they may come to one State primarily, but they 
usually stop in several other States along the way.
  We are in a situation where the No. 1 industry in America, the 
tourism industry, has been dramatically impacted by the downturn in the 
economy. Tourism not only affects the people in that industry, but it 
affects people in all kinds of other industries that are related to it. 
So when you create a tourism job, you are creating jobs down the line. 
You are creating construction jobs, you are creating jobs when they 
have to go see the dentist or the local health care provider or go to 
the grocery store or wherever else they are going and using the money 
they earn to spend in the economy.
  Other countries around the world spend money to attract people to 
their countries. What we are saying with this bill is, let's advertise 
the United States and let's use those dollars in a way that creates 
jobs here in America. We know we have a great product to sell. When you 
have a great product to sell--the United States of America--it makes 
sense to sell it. It makes sense. The Presiding Officer is the Senator 
from Illinois, home to one of the great cities in America--Chicago. It 
is a great product to sell. I am from Las Vegas--a great product to 
sell. Our national parks are incredible products to sell. Our beaches; 
when the colors are changing in the Northeast--there are so many 
amazing places to see in America that it is a very easy product to 
sell. Right now, we are just not selling it.
  All of the other countries are advertising. We think about the times 
we have seen Australia advertise or other countries advertise because 
they want Americans to go visit their country. We want other citizens 
to come to America. Not only does it create jobs, but it also creates a 
lot of good will around the world. As my colleague, Senator Dorgan, 
pointed out, when people come here to the United States, they leave 
with a more favorable impression. Well, not a lot of people have a 
favorable impression of the United States these days, so we want more 
and more people coming here visiting, learning, seeing our sights, and 
interacting with our people. We are good people, and we like other 
people around the world. I believe this bill is going to improve the 
image of America around the world by the people who come visit here.
  Let me just conclude with this: We have a bipartisan bill that 
creates jobs, that doesn't hurt the deficit. This is the kind of 
legislation we need to pass here in the U.S. Senate, especially in 
these economic times when people are worried about skyrocketing 
deficits and debt. We have other pieces of legislation that are 
important to work on, but right now there is no question but to take 
the time out we are taking to pass a piece of legislation that we know 
will create jobs. This is the right thing to do.
  I am proud to be associated with this legislation, and I thank the 
majority leader, Senator Reid, for bringing it to the floor. I thank 
all of those who have worked on it but primarily my cosponsor and 
coauthor of the bill, Senator Dorgan, for his great work and great 
leadership on this bill.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, how much time remains?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. There is 14 minutes 25 seconds remaining.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, let me just observe, my colleague from 
Nevada probably knows there are some who have raised the question of a 
$10 fee that will be assessed travelers who are coming into this 
country, and they have said: What an awful thing to do. They say that a 
$10 fee could be onerous, burdensome, and other countries may 
retaliate.
  This is a fee with respect to people who are coming to this country 
from countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program. I showed this 
morning that virtually all of the countries in the Visa Waiver Program 
charge a much higher fee to an American traveler who goes to their 
country. We are not suggesting a fee that should in any way deter 
somebody from coming to our country.
  Mr. President, $10 is not a significant amount of money for somebody 
engaged in international travel. And it's a one time fee on the use of 
the Electronic System for Travel Authorization--ESTA--program, which 
lasts for two years. This isn't even $10 each trip--someone could 
travel many times in those two years. And what we are doing with that 
fee is raising the funds to engage in a promotion program to promote 
America, our country.
  My colleague from Nevada, Senator Ensign, this morning said that 
advertising works, but most advertising with respect to travel and 
tourism and promotion in this country is in promotion of a specific 
company, or perhaps a town. But there is no advertising or promotion on 
the part of this country to say to people around the world that you are 
welcome to come to this country. We want you to come to America. 
Experience the culture and character of this great country of ours.
  That is what this travel promotion program is about. It is a public 
sector, but mostly private sector program, the funding from which will 
come in part from a $10 fee from people coming from countries that 
impose a much higher assessment on Americans when we go to those 
countries, and in part on contributions from the private sector.
  I also make the point that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has issued a 
letter of very strong support, believing this is a very pro-business 
proposal that will create jobs in our country. My hope is we will get a 
very strong vote on it today.
  I yield the floor.


                  UNDER SECRETARY FOR TRAVEL PROMOTION

  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I appreciate Senator Inouye and Senator 
Dorgan's leadership on promoting tourism to the United States. Thanks 
to their commitment, the Senate is on the verge of passing legislation 
that is critical to our economy. Although it provides almost 8 million 
American jobs, travel and tourism have not received the prioritization 
in our government that they merit. I am pleased that we are creating an 
Office of Travel Promotion and hope in the future we will take a step 
further and elevate the role of tourism promotion at the Department of 
Commerce. Other governments around the world have tourism departments 
headed by Cabinet-level officials. This stature gives them the clout to 
advocate for pro-tourism, pro-economy policies, and cut through the 
redtape to implement those policies.
  Tourism is vitally important to New Hampshire. Last year, tourism in 
New Hampshire supported approximately 67,000 direct full-time and part-
time jobs. I know from my own experience that having a high-level 
travel promotion authority produces results. When I was Governor, I 
elevated our State's Office of Travel and Tourism within our State 
government because I recognized the importance of promoting the travel 
industry and ensuring that we have a strong advocate for traveler-
friendly policies in our State government.
  Under the guidance of this high-level division, the travel economy in 
New Hampshire has increased substantially since 2001. Despite a 
nationwide lull in tourism, spending by travelers to New Hampshire has 
increased over 33 percent, creating over a billion dollars more in 
economic growth. State revenues from travel have increased by over $100 
million, providing an important boost to our budget.

[[Page S9163]]

  I believe we should replicate New Hampshire's success in promoting 
tourism at the national level. This is why I support the creation of an 
Under Secretary for Travel Promotion.
  Mr. INOUYE. I appreciate the Senator's kind words for me. I wish to 
express my agreement with her on the creation of an Under Secretary 
position in the Department of Commerce who oversees the tourism 
industry. I have advocated for the Under Secretary position in the 
past, and continue to support its creation for the reasons you 
described.
  The State of Hawaii's economy relies heavily on travel and tourism, 
and welcomes visitors from across this great Nation and from around the 
world. International travelers to the United States generate a 
tremendous amount of economic activity. The Department of Commerce 
found that in 2008, total U.S. international travel receipts were $142 
billion. International tourism provided support for over 800,000 U.S. 
jobs, $30 billion in payroll, and $17 billion in tax revenue. The 
economic benefit of this industry should be represented, and requires 
policy-related coordination. An Under Secretary would provide that 
voice. This is especially true when the U.S. engages in international 
negotiations around travel and tourism policy. It is important that the 
United States is represented by an appropriately ranked official, with 
the same authority as his or her counterparts.
  Mrs. SHAHEEN. My friend from Hawaii makes an excellent point. 
Although the bill does not include an Under Secretary, I believe it is 
important for the Secretaries of Departments of Commerce, State, and 
Homeland Security to ensure that the United States is represented 
internationally to discuss travel and tourism policy issues. In 
particular, these Departments should work to remove barriers to travel, 
expand market access for tourism industries, and promote tourism to the 
U.S. Does my colleague agree with me on this point?
  Mr. INOUYE. I do. I look forward to working with the Senator on this 
issue in the future, and with Senator Bingaman who has also been a 
strong advocate for this issue.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. I thank Senators Inouye and Shaheen. I appreciate both 
of their support for having an Under Secretary of Commerce lead tourism 
policy for the United States. As it is for your States, and as it is 
for the Nation as whole, tourism is an important part of New Mexico's 
economy. Tourism-related businesses in my State make up eight percent 
of New Mexico's economy. These businesses employ over 80,000 New 
Mexicans. My State is fortunate to have a Cabinet-level official in 
charge of tourism, and has been well-served Secretary Cerletti, New 
Mexico's secretary of tourism.
  I am pleased to support the bill before us today, for it begins to 
fill a longstanding void in our economic policy. I think we could do 
more, however. Tourism, especially international tourism, is an 
underappreciated economic engine for our country. When international 
visitors come here, economists say that the United States is exporting 
tourism: it counts as an export because it generates revenue here in 
the United States. The $142 billion that international visitors spent 
here in 2008 helped lower our trade deficit, which I know many people 
are concerned about. To put that $142 billion in perspective, if we 
consider international visitors as a single export market, it would be 
the United States's third largest export market, behind Canada and 
Mexico, but ahead of China. Exports to China generated $70 billion of 
revenue for American businesses last year, less than half of the 
revenue generated by international visitors to the United States. The 
more we can attract visitors to the United States, the less money we 
send abroad. The more we can promote tourism to the United States, the 
more jobs we will create here for Americans, jobs that by necessity 
cannot be relocated overseas.
  To do this, we need the right personnel in place to lead our tourism 
policy, and I believe an Under Secretary of Commerce would be best 
suited to do so for the reasons my colleagues have mentioned. Pro-
tourism, pro-economy policies can easily be forgotten in top-level 
discussions within the administration if there is not someone with the 
clout to effectively advocate for them. Likewise, in international 
negotiations over travel policies, just as in negotiations about other 
aspects of international trade, the United States needs to be 
represented by someone of equal rank to his or her counterparts.
  I thank both of my colleagues and look forward to working on this 
issue with them in the future.
  Mrs. SHAHEEN. I thank again Senators Inouye and Bingaman.
  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues 
in support of S. 1023, the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, which is now 
being considered by the full Senate.
  The Travel Promotion Act of 2009 will allow the United States to 
remain competitive as a welcoming destination for foreign travelers. 
Our ability to explain the processes and changes made by the United 
States to gain entry for travel will help to ease fears about the entry 
process. The proposed nonprofit, independent corporation charged with 
this responsibility will be able to conduct the necessary outreach and 
promote tourism in a way that the tourism industry cannot. In addition, 
an Office of Travel Promotion will be able to work with the Department 
of State and the Department of Homeland Security to improve the entry 
process.
  Promoting the United States as an attractive tourist destination for 
both leisure and business with international visitors is of the utmost 
importance to the many States that house destination resorts. Consider 
the experience of my own home State of Hawaii. Hawaii's economy relies 
on tourism and travelers. Visitors from around the world come to see 
our islands' natural beauty and experience the spirit of ``Aloha.'' Our 
Nation's hospitality industry suffered a severe setback following the 
events of September 11, 2001, and travel from abroad to the United 
States has fallen dramatically. The industry continues to struggle 
during these difficult economic times coupled with fears about a 
pandemic influenza.
  Hawaii's experience is not unique. The hospitality industry 
nationwide has faced similar challenges, and the economic effects have 
rippled through the Nation to impact all of our citizens. The State of 
Hawaii's visitor statistics reflect the downward trend, which 
accelerated during last year's increase in the cost of oil. Compared to 
the first 7 months in 2008, visitors to the islands for the same period 
this year fell by 8.1 percent. Nationwide, the number of international 
visitors through the first two quarters of 2009 fell by 10.3 percent as 
compared to the same period during 2008.
  Both developing countries and industrialized economies around the 
world have ministers and offices that promote travel to their 
respective countries. However, the United States does not have an 
office that promotes travel and tourism abroad. This legislation is an 
important first step in the right direction. Establishing an Office of 
Travel Promotion will help to attract foreign travelers to the United 
States. This will not only sustain our tourism based industries, it 
reinforces business relationships and promotes a better understanding 
between Americans and our friends abroad. Interacting with the American 
people is a valuable tool at our disposal to dispel international 
travelers of misconceptions they may have about our country. 
Approximately 74 percent of visitors have a more favorable opinion of 
the United States after visiting our country.
  The economic activity generated by international travel and its 
promotion should be approached in the same manner we foster other 
industries equally important to jobs and the economy. The Travel 
Promotion Act of 2009 is vital to our travel and tourism industries' 
ability to compete globally and to restore confidence in the image of 
the United States as a country that is committed to welcoming our 
friends from abroad. I urge my colleagues to support this measure and 
help us ensure that international business and leisure travel to the 
United States is given all of the tools necessary to succeed.
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Travel 
Promotion Act of 2009. I would like to commend Senator Dorgan for 
introducing this important legislation as well as Majority Leader Reid, 
Senator Inouye and other colleagues who have helped craft this measure 
to promote foreign travel and tourism to the United States.

[[Page S9164]]

  Tourism is crucial to the economy of our Nation. Many jobs are 
created in the retail and wholesale sectors as a direct result of the 
industry. These jobs are in addition to employment opportunities 
offered by hotel, travel, restaurant, and leisure businesses. My home 
State of Hawaii is especially dependent on tourism. It is Hawaii's No. 
1 economic-growth asset.
  Hawaii is severely vulnerable to international events and 
fluctuations in the global economy. After 9/11, in the last quarter of 
2001 and the first quarter of 2002, Hawaii's international visitors 
decreased by 35.4 and 20.3 percent, respectively. Similarly, as the 
economy spiraled downward in September 2008, Hawaii's international 
visitors decreased by 4.6 and 5.1 percent in the last quarter of 2008 
and the first quarter of 2009. Our State welcomes many visitors from 
Asia, in particular Japan, whose economy is projected to decline by 5.9 
percent in 2009.
  Waikiki, a destination for visitors from all across the globe, 
accounted for about 8 percent of Hawaii's gross State product, 10 
percent of civilian jobs, and 12 percent of tax revenues in 2002, 
according to the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development, 
and Tourism, DBEDT. The department reported that for the month of July 
2009, tourist expenditures decreased by 12.4 percent, or $126.7 
million, compared to the prior year.
  Hawaii public and private sector leaders have been proactive in 
marketing Hawaii as the destination of choice for visitors throughout 
the world. The Hawaii State government commits millions of dollars of 
public funds to market, advertise, and promote Hawaii. However, this is 
not enough. We need to apply economies of scale and work to market the 
United States as a destination as other countries already do. While 
many governments have increased its international visitor market share 
by promoting their tourism industry, our country primarily relies on 
States to promote themselves. We have not realized the fullest 
potential of our promotional dollars. We need to maximize the 
effectiveness of our resources in an effort to attract more 
international visitors to enjoy the beauty and richness of our country.
  The Travel Promotion Act of 2009 will help accomplish this goal. This 
bill would establish a Corporation for Travel Promotion as a nonprofit 
corporation, to create a nationally coordinated travel program. The 
program would be charged to encourage travel to the United States and 
will promote our Nation as a visitor destination. It will create jobs 
and stimulate the economy. I urge my colleagues to support the Travel 
Promotion Act of 2009.
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to raise some concerns 
that I have with the Travel Promotion Act and to suggest some 
modifications to it that I feel may be necessary to ensure our security 
at the Nation's ports of entry. While I support the majority leader's 
efforts to promote travel to the United States, I believe that there 
are some security-related issues with the Travel Promotion Act that 
need to be addressed. I realize that, in order to move this bill, there 
won't be any amendments offered on the floor of the Senate. 
Nevertheless, I feel it is important to have a frank discussion about 
the potential unintended consequences that portions of this bill might 
have for our Nation's security. Because it is a good step forward, I 
plan to support this bill today. But I will continue to pursue 
legislative options to ensure that some of these peripheral issues are 
addressed.
  Allow me to provide some background. In the 110th Congress, the 
Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs created 
the Electronic System of Travel Authorization known as ESTA, within the 
Department of Homeland Security, DHS, as part of the Implementing the 
Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The electronic 
system was developed to address our main concerns about the Visa Waiver 
Program, VWP; namely, that the first time Customs and Border 
Protection, CBP, encounters many travelers from visa waiver countries 
is when they land at a U.S. airport--far too late to prevent a 
terrorist incident in flight.
  The idea behind ESTA was to register travelers coming to America 
electronically before they leave their home countries. That way we 
would be able to detect potential terrorists attempting to enter the 
U.S. from VWP countries--like Richard Wright, ``the shoe bomber''--
before they actually board an airplane bound for the U.S.
  The 9/11 Commission Act also authorizes, but does not require, the 
collection of a fee to pay for the administration of the system. To 
date, DHS has elected not to impose a fee because of concerns about the 
adverse reaction ESTA requirements have generated in Europe. Indeed, 
the lack of a fee was one of the key reasons that the European Union 
ruled that ESTA was not a visa, and decided not to impose a visa 
requirement on U.S. travelers.
  The Travel Promotion Act, however, requires DHS to impose a minimum 
fee of $10 per travel authorization to be used for a Travel Promotion 
Fund. We should expect the European Union--EU--and other VWP nations to 
impose a similar fee on U.S. travelers in the future. Additionally, 
because citizens of the EU do not use credit cards online as often as 
Americans, it will be challenging for DHS to set up the infrastructure 
to collect this fee in a way that facilitates travel.
  Given these realities, I am concerned that the bill gives DHS no 
funding to set up the infrastructure that would be needed to collect 
this fee. DHS, therefore, would have to divert funds away from homeland 
security programs to pay for setting up and collecting this travel 
promotion fee. Promoting travel to the United States is surely a worthy 
cause, but we should make sure that the Department has the resources to 
administer it, so that it does not come at the expense of other 
programs that keep Americans safe.
  There is a simple way to address this problem. According to the 
Congressional Budget Office, the $10 fee would generate $180 million a 
year. The bill caps the funding that would be used for promoting travel 
at $100 million. This means that the fee could generate excess funding 
of as much as $80 million a year. The bill does not give any of this 
excess funding to DHS for implementing the ESTA system and the fee 
mandated by the legislation. Instead, it would actually require DHS to 
pay out of its own pocket the costs of implementing the fee. We should 
make sure that any excess funding is made available to DHS in order to 
ensure that funding is not diverted from important security programs to 
implement this fee.
  S. 1023 also seeks to give the Director of Travel Promotion in the 
Department of Commerce authority over CBP functions by requiring that 
he ``ensure that arriving international visitors are generally welcomed 
with accurate information and in an inviting manner'' and that he 
``enhance the entry and departure experience for international 
visitors.'' The CBP port of entry is a unique security environment over 
which DHS, not the Department of Commerce, has and should continue to 
have ultimate jurisdiction.
  Prior to 9/11, consular officers often faced pressure to adjudicate 
visa applications more quickly even though some applications may have 
been incomplete. CBP Officers at ports of entry should not have to face 
similar pressures to speed up the processing of incoming travelers at 
the expense of security considerations. In order to ensure that there 
is no confusion, we should clarify that the role of the Director of 
Travel Promotion at the Nation's ports of entry is strictly advisory, 
and that the Secretary of Homeland Security shall have control over the 
processes through which travelers are admitted into the United States.
  Lastly, S. 1023 would establish a Travel Promotion Corporation 
charged, in part, with disseminating information about our Nation's 
visa and entry requirements through a Web site and through promotional 
campaigns abroad.
  This is a worthy endeavor, and these campaigns surely will help to 
educate foreign travelers about the steps they need to take before 
travelling to the United States. As, chairman of the Senate Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, I understand that our 
visa and entry requirements can be very confusing. And the last thing 
we want is for a publicly funded entity to use taxpayer dollars to 
disseminate inaccurate information.

[[Page S9165]]

  I believe that the Travel Promotion Corporation should be required to 
submit the information it plans to disseminate for a factual review by 
the Departments of Homeland Security and State. The Homeland Security 
and State Departments would have absolutely no editorial role in the 
types of campaigns the Corporation develops. To avoid unnecessary 
delays, DHS and State should then be required to return their comments 
to the Corporation within 10 business days.
  I believe that the bill we are currently considering is important, 
and that its goal of promoting travel to the U.S. is laudable, 
especially when travel and tourism to our country are so important to 
our economy. I will vote for it today. Moving forward, however, I 
believe that we must ensure that the bill is implemented in a way that 
does not adversely impact the security of our Nation, by ensuring that 
it does not force DHS to rob Peter to pay Paul. I understand that, in 
order to get this bill passed today, amendments cannot be offered on 
the floor. I want to reiterate, however, that I plan on pursuing these 
objectives in future legislation . I think we can achieve the dual 
goals of promoting travel to our country and enhancing security--I look 
forward to working with the majority leader and other supporters of 
this legislation going forward.
  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I am proud to be a cosponsor of S. 1023, 
the Travel Promotion Act of 2009, and I will vote for the bill on final 
passage. At a time when we are facing a severe economic downturn and 
the worst recession in a generation we need to look for creative ways 
to create jobs and generate revenue that can provide benefits across 
our urban areas, cities, towns, and rural countryside.
  It is therefore timely that the Senate is considering a bill aimed at 
promoting travel and tourism in the United States. Tourism is a 
multibillion-dollar industry, and promoting travel to the United States 
will help stimulate our economy. The people in my home State of 
Michigan understand the important economic contributions of tourism. In 
fact, tourism is one of the three largest industries in Michigan along 
with manufacturing and agriculture.
  According to the U.S. Travel Association, in 2007 the travel industry 
supported 148,700 jobs with a payroll of $3.5 billion in Michigan. 
Nationally the Senate Travel Promotion Act is expected to create 40,000 
new jobs in the first year.
  Tourism is a successful industry in Michigan because we have so much 
to offer visitors. In 1831, the great chronicler of early America and 
one of our Nation's first tourists, Alexis de Tocqueville, explored the 
Great Lakes. When he saw Lake Huron, he described it as ``Not grand in 
poetry only; it's the most extraordinary spectacle that I have seen in 
my life.''
  Indeed, Michigan has the world's longest freshwater coastline. 
Michigan has beautiful beaches and cherry orchards, maritime museums 
and shipwreck-diving preserves. We even have some of the world's 
highest freshwater sand dunes and the only national fresh water marine 
sanctuary, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary at Alpena.
  There are over 11,000 inland lakes in Michigan, and we have the 
second highest number of recreational boats. Michigan also offers 
plentiful wilderness experiences at national parks and trails: Isle 
Royale National Park, Keweenaw National Historic Park, Sleeping Bear 
Dunes and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and the North Country 
Scenic Trail. Our State has nearly 4 million acres of State forest 
land, 2.7 million acres of national forest land and some 230 
campgrounds. And Michigan has thousands of miles of hiking, biking, 
cross-country skiing and snowmobiling trails. With so many inviting 
tourist destinations in Michigan it is no wonder Michigan stands to 
benefit from the increased travel that will result from the enactment 
of the Travel Promotion Act.
  This bipartisan legislation aims to reverse the decline in overseas 
visitors to the United States since 9/11 by establishing a nationally 
coordinated public-private partnership, similar to what exists in many 
other countries, to increase international travelers to the United 
States.
  At no cost to the taxpayer the legislation would establish the 
Corporation for Travel Promotion, an independent, nonprofit corporation 
governed by an 11-member board of directors appointed by the Secretary 
of Commerce. It also would create an Office of Travel Promotion in the 
Department of Commerce to develop programs to increase the number of 
international visitors in the United States. It is paid for by a 
public-private matching program, the Travel Promotion Fund. Federal 
contributions will be financed by a required $10 fee paid by foreign 
travelers from visa waiver counties and collected via the electronic 
system for travel authorization.
  As the tourism season ramps up in Michigan, we must do everything we 
can to take advantage of our State's natural beauty and recreation 
opportunities to grow this critical sector of our economy.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I support S. 1023 and its objectives. 
Indeed, I am a cosponsor. I submit these comments regarding the bill's 
provisions to help our Nation's many small businesses. I filed an 
amendment, S. Amdt. 1320, to ensure that at least one member of the 
Travel Promotion Board would have appropriate expertise regarding small 
business concerns and the retail sector. I am joined in this effort by 
Senators Landrieu and Snowe, the chairman and ranking member of the 
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, who have cosponsored the 
amendment.
  I am disappointed that we are unable to get consent to lay the 
pending amendment aside for the purpose of considering other 
amendments, such as the one I have filed. This amendment would not 
change the number of board members; it would only require that one 
person have appropriate expertise and experience with small business 
and in the retail sector. This will ensure that at least one member 
will represent the interests of small business concerns as that term is 
defined by the Small Business Act, 15 U.S.C. 632, and generally used by 
the Small Business Administration.
  When I entered the Senate in 2007, I asked to serve on the Small 
Business Committee because I fully appreciate how critical small 
businesses are to our economic recovery and strength, to building 
America's future, and to helping the United States compete in today's 
global marketplace. I think that promoting the United States as a 
tourist destination to foreigners increases our economic viability and 
the image of the United States abroad. Visitors to our country get a 
better picture of the United States, which shapes their perception of 
our country and its people. It is vital that the perspectives of small 
business owners be represented because they employ more than half of 
all private sector employees and make up 99 percent of the Nation's 29 
million businesses.
  While I regret that we are unable to consider my amendment, I hope 
that my recommendations will be considered as the legislative process 
continues.
  Mr. DORGAN. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the time 
during the quorum call be divided equally between both sides.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DORGAN. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, pending before the Senate is the Travel 
Promotion Act of 2009, which we have worked on for a long time. Travel 
and tourism are critical to the economic health of America, as well as 
our home State of Illinois. It is the sixth most popular State in the 
Nation among overseas tourists. Tourism adds $2.1 billion to our State 
and local tax coffers and supports more than 300,000 jobs

[[Page S9166]]

each year in the State. That is why we need this bill. Promoting 
tourism, bringing in travelers to visit Illinois and the Nation creates 
job opportunities, tax revenues and, frankly, gives us a chance to show 
off a great nation.
  I could go through the long list of wonderful things to see in 
Illinois--and it is long--but trust me, it is a story that can be told 
in virtually every State in the Nation, and certainly here in our 
capital.
  There are those who argue about the $10 promotion fee, which is a 
small price to pay to promote people coming from overseas, who will 
spend much more than that to visit our country and join in the 
wonderful opportunities we have to offer.
  As we come to a conclusion on the bill, I want to spend a moment to 
acknowledge the work of the majority leader, Harry Reid, who worked 
tirelessly with Senators Dorgan and Ensign. He was an early and strong 
supporter of the Travel Promotion Act, recognizing how important travel 
is to the United States and to our economy. He worked hard to make sure 
there was a place on the crowded legislative calendar for us to take up 
this bill.
  Travel and tourism are a major industry in Senator Reid's home State 
of Nevada, and enacting this legislation will save and create thousands 
of jobs in Nevada and help generate millions of dollars in revenue and 
tax receipts. Senator Reid has been committed to this legislation since 
it was introduced, and he will shepherd this legislation to the 
President's desk. With his leadership, we have another chance to move 
this bill on the floor of the Senate. We failed to reach cloture in 
June, and some people gave up, but Harry Reid never gave up. He worked 
with the sponsors to move this forward. He recognizes that the travel 
sector is a major driver in economic growth in Nevada and across 
America. He found a way to rescue this bill, bring it back to life, and 
bring it up for today's vote. For his vision, his tenacity, and his 
leadership, we all owe a great debt of gratitude to Senator Harry Reid 
of Nevada.
  This Travel Promotion Act is a major part of his work in the Senate, 
not only to help America, but his home State of Nevada.
  I yield the floor, suggest the absence of a quorum, and I ask that 
the time be divided equally.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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