TRAVEL AND TOURISM

Bills and resolutions

Congress: require any local currencies used for Members and employees for official foreign travel be paid for using congressional funds and enhance disclosure on official congressional foreign travel (see H.R. 882), H1524 [2MR]

Consumers: require operators of international travel websites to provide information on potential health and safety risks associated with overseas vacation destinations marketed on the website (see S. 1753), S6872 [20OC] (see H.R. 1120), H1905 [16MR] (see H.R. 3241), H7007 [24OC]

Crime: prohibit possession, transfer, or use of fraudulent travel documents and require recurring training for transportation security officers (see H.R. 2431), H4671 [6JY]

Cuba: facilitate export of U.S. agricultural products, remove impediments to export of medical devices and medicines, allow travel by U.S. citizens, and establish an agricultural export promotion program (see H.R. 1888), H3279 [12MY]

———lift travel restrictions (see H.R. 1886), H3279 [12MY]

Dept. of Commerce: establish a competitive grant program to promote domestic regional tourism (see S. 1663), S6330 [6OC] (see H.R. 3484), H7890 [18NO]

Dept. of Defense: expand Operation Hero Miles program to include donations of travel benefits in the form of hotel points or awards for free or reduced-cost accommodations (see S. 1776), S7005 [1NO] (see H.R. 3303), H7207 [1NO] (see H.R. 3419), H7578 [14NO]

Dept. of Homeland Security: restore exemption from fees for certain customs services for passengers arriving from Canada, Mexico, and islands adjacent to the U.S. (see S. 1951), S8414 [7DE]

Dept. of State: address inefficiencies in the visa processing system that discourage overseas business and leisure travel to the U.S. (see H.R. 3039), H6455 [23SE]

———authorize access to certain Federal, State, and other databases to verify identity of a passport applicant, reduce incidence of fraud, and require authentication of identification documents (see S. 744), S2187 [6AP]

———improve visa issuance process (see S. 1653), S6090 [4OC]

Federal agencies and departments: limit printing, travel, and vehicle costs (see S. 477), S1218 [3MR]

Immigration: facilitate travel and investment in the U.S. by reforming visa procedures for certain foreign nationals investing in residential real estate (see S. 1746), S6871 [20OC] (see H.R. 3341), H7330 [3NO]

Law enforcement: mandate reporting requirements for sex offenders intending to travel internationally, provide notice to the destination, and prevent entry to the U.S. by foreign sex offenders (see H.R. 3253), H7007 [24OC]

NASA: establish site for Discovery (space shuttle) upon retirement (see H.R. 1590), H2910 [15AP]

———establish sites for retiring space shuttles in Texas, Virginia, California, and Florida (see H.R. 1536), H2854 [14AP]

National Passport Month: support goals and ideals (see H. Res. 366), H5398 [22JY]

Ships and vessels: allow operation of foreign-flag cruise ships in U.S. coastwise trade (see H.R. 2460), H4792 [8JY]

Taxation: allow a refundable credit for the cost of passports and other enhanced identification documents required to comply with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (see H.R. 2178), H4186 [14JN]

———restore deduction for travel expenses of a taxpayer's spouse who accompanies the taxpayer on business travel (see H.R. 467), H507 [26JA]

Transportation: prevent imposition of unreasonable transportation terminal fees (see S. 1922), S7991 [29NO] (see H.R. 1691), H2998 [3MY]

Yosemite National Park: acquire a certain amount of land and interests in land in Mariposa, CA, for improved visitor services (see H.R. 3640), H8879 [13DE]

Remarks in House

American Bus Association: anniversary, E172 [9FE]

Canada: approval of Beyond the Border agreement to ease border trade and travel, H8201 [7DE]

Florida: provide buffer along coastline for new oil and gas drilling, E1457 [30JY]

Gulf of Mexico: anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, E755 [15AP]

Hudson River School: recognize contributions of painters to the U.S., E1388 [22JY], E1514 [9AU], E1850 [13OC], E1964 [31OC], E1981 [2NO], E2063 [16NO], E2097, E2100 [18NO], E2123 [29NO], E2136 [30NO], E2214 [8DE], E2333 [20DE]

Immigration: facilitate travel and investment in the U.S. by reforming visa procedures for certain foreign nationals investing in residential real estate (H.R. 3341), E2007 [4NO]

Lafayette, LA: Rand McNally & Co., and USA Today ``Best for Food'' city designee, E1468 [1AU]

Monterey, CA: tribute to sister-city relationship with Lankaran, Azerbaijan, E1497 [5AU]

NASA: decision against placement of retired space shuttle at Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, H2588 [12AP]

———reconsider decision to place retired space shuttle in New York, NY, H6521 [4OC]

Puerto Rico: clarify application of Passenger Vessel Services Act to vessels that are not qualified to transport passengers for hire to allow such vessels to transport passengers between ports in Puerto Rico, H7605, H7606 [15NO]

Teton Village, WY: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort recipient of National Ski Areas Association Golden Eagle Award for Overall Environmental Excellence, E1201 [24JN]

Union Dale, PA: anniversary of Village of the Four Seasons resort community, E1197 [24JN]

Remarks in Senate

Alta, WY: Grand Targhee Resort recipient of National Ski Areas Association Golden Eagle Award for Overall Environmental Excellence, S4552, S4553 [13JY]

Consumers: require operators of international travel websites to provide information on potential health and safety risks associated with overseas vacation destinations marketed on the website (S. 1753), S6877 [20OC]

Dept. of Defense: expand Operation Hero Miles program to include donations of travel benefits in the form of hotel points or awards for free or reduced-cost accommodations, S7687 [17NO]

———expand Operation Hero Miles program to include donations of travel benefits in the form of hotel points or awards for free or reduced-cost accommodations (S. 1776), S7007 [1NO], S7352 [10NO]

Dept. of State: authorize access to certain Federal, State, and other databases to verify identity of a passport applicant, reduce incidence of fraud, and require authentication of identification documents (S. 744), S2201 [6AP]

———policy to lift travel restrictions to Cuba, S8671-S8673 [15DE], S8766 [17DE]

Lost Valley Ski Area (business): anniversary, S1215 [3MR]

Roads and highways: anniversary of groundbreaking of the National Road, S2576 [2MY]

Teton Village, WY: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort recipient of National Ski Areas Association Golden Eagle Award for Overall Environmental Excellence, S4552, S4553 [13JY]

Texts of

S. 1753, International Travelers Bill of Rights Act, S6877 [20OC]

S. 1776, expand Dept. of Defense Operation Hero Miles program to include donations of travel benefits in the form of hotel points or awards for free or reduced-cost accommodations, S7007 [1NO]