[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[Senate]
[Page 31395]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING HOSTELLING INTERNATIONAL USA

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 380, submitted earlier 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 380) recognizing Hostelling 
     International USA for 75 years of service to intercultural 
     understanding and to youth travel.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I offer today a resolution recognizing 
Hostelling International USA for 75 years of service to intercultural 
understanding and to youth travel.
  Hostelling USA was established in 1934 to promote hostelling in the 
United States. Since it is founding, it has hosted over 22 million 
visitors in its 70 hostels across the country, including Alaska.
  Hostelling is a unique and affordable way travelers can see our 
country, while making lifelong friends and contacts.
  I congratulate Hostelling International USA for 75 years of service 
and hope my colleagues will join me in passing this resolution.
  Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the 
preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 380) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 380

       Whereas travel promotes awareness and knowledge of peoples, 
     places, and cultures;
       Whereas hostelling is educational travel, local and global, 
     using hostels and other programs to facilitate interaction 
     among travelers and with local communities;
       Whereas hostels are simple, safe, shared accommodations 
     that promote community and cooperation among users and 
     introduce young people of limited means to travel;
       Whereas Hostelling International USA (HI-USA) is a 
     nonprofit educational organization established in 1934 as 
     American Youth Hostels to promote hostelling in the United 
     States;
       Whereas, since its founding, HI-USA has provided in its 
     hostels more than 22,000,000 overnight stays to visitors from 
     the United States and more than 150 countries worldwide;
       Whereas today HI-USA has a network of 70 hostels in areas 
     of cultural, historic, and recreational interest, often in 
     partnership with public, private, and other nonprofit 
     organizations, that annually hosts nearly 1,000,000 
     overnights stays by both domestic and foreign travelers;
       Whereas HI-USA today offers programs through its hostels 
     and local chapters that promote the appreciation of local 
     culture and environment, while facilitating the discovery of 
     both world and self, to more than 65,000 participants 
     annually;
       Whereas HI-USA has made a unique and notable contribution 
     to intercultural understanding in the United States and 
     worldwide, especially among youth: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates Hostelling International USA on its 75 
     years of service; and
       (2) commends Hostelling International USA for its 
     contributions to intercultural exchange and its leadership in 
     the field of youth travel.

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