[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 142 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF REP. JIM SANTINI

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 30, 2015

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the life and times of 
one of our former colleagues, Rep. Jim Santini from Nevada. I actually 
never served with Jim, but I came to know him well and appreciate him 
for his work on travel and tourism issues, two issues for which we 
shared a great passion. Sadly, Jim Santini passed away on September 22 
from esophageal cancer.
   Jim Santini was elected in 1974 and left the House in 1982. He 
served in the House at a time when Nevada only had one representative. 
In many respects he was the third Senator. He travelled to every corner 
of the state and was especially interested in protecting the interests 
of the rural communities; he didn't want even the smallest of towns in 
the desert to be forgotten.
   During his tenure in the House he honed in on one of the great 
economic engines of our country: travel and tourism. This industry 
often toils in disparate ways but Santini recognized its potential 
power if it ever came together over its common goals: to encourage new 
adventures around the country through travel and exploration and to 
serve customers by creating memorable, lasting experiences for them in 
the process of travel. Currently, travel and tourism accounts for $2.1 
trillion in economic output in the U.S. and employs 15 million persons.
   Rather than letting this vast travel economy move along in all its 
separate parts he helped all the many facets of travel and tourism see 
their commonalities and unite around a common purpose. In doing so he 
elevated the industry's interests in Congress from its myriad 
components into a singularly focused agenda. Part of the way he did 
this was to organize the Congressional Travel and Tourism Caucus.
   After Santini left Congress the caucus disappeared. But given 
California's tremendous tourism industry and my involvement in 
promoting travel and tourism when I was in the California Assembly, one 
of the first things I did when I got elected to Congress was to re-
establish the Caucus. I am proud to say that the Caucus today is quite 
vigorous with 116 Members. We have significant accomplishments under 
our belt including the enactment and reauthorization of the BRAND USA 
legislation which helps promote the United States to international 
travelers, and the JOLT Act which was introduced this year and proposes 
to reform and enhance the way visitor visas are processed so as to make 
travel to the U.S. easier from abroad. We have Jim Santini to thank for 
these accomplishments. It is his vision that is embodied in much of 
today's travel and tourism agenda.
   Jim Santini leaves behind his devoted wife, Ann Crane Santini, his 
children David, Lisa, Katherine, Lori, Mark and JD and their families, 
13 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
   Mr. Speaker, I feel certain the House joins me in offering 
condolences to the Santini family and in giving our former colleague 
posthumous thanks for all he did to serve the great state of Nevada and 
the nation.

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