[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[September 30, 1992]
[Page 1722]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Signing the Tourism Policy and Export Promotion Act of 1992
September 30, 1992

    Today I am signing into law S. 680, the ``Tourism Policy and Export 
Promotion Act of 1992.'' The Act authorizes appropriations for the 
United States Travel and Tourism Administration. This Federal agency 
promotes the United States as an international travel destination. It 
assists small and medium-sized U.S. travel and tourism companies in 
entering and competing in the international market.
    The travel and tourism industry is America's third largest retail 
industry. It employs over six million workers, making it America's third 
largest employer. In 1991, travel and tourism generated $344 billion in 
receipts, accounting for a trade surplus of $16.8 billion. Both receipts 
and the surplus are expected to grow even larger in 1992. The health of 
this industry is important to our economic recovery.
    In signing this legislation, I must note my concerns with one 
provision. S. 680 would establish the Rural Tourism Development 
Foundation as a charitable and nonprofit corporation to assist in the 
development and promotion of rural tourism. Although most of the 
provisions in the Act demonstrate an intent to establish the Foundation 
as a private entity, there are certain provisions that undermine this 
conclusion. Entities that are neither clearly governmental nor clearly 
private should not be created because they blur the distinction between 
public and private entities in a way that may diminish the political 
accountability of Government.
    On balance, I believe the Congress intended to create the Foundation 
as a private entity. However, in order to remove any doubt as to the 
nature of the Foundation, I instruct the Attorney General and the 
Secretary of Commerce to prepare legislation for submission to the next 
Congress to amend this Act to ensure that the Foundation is considered 
solely a private entity.

                                                             George Bush

The White House,
September 30, 1992.

                    Note: S. 680, approved September 30, was assigned 
                        Public Law No. 102-372.