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[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2579 Reported in House (RH)]

                                                 Union Calendar No. 458

104th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 2579

                      [Report No. 104-839, Part I]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

   To establish the National Tourism Board and the National Tourism 
Organization to promote international travel and tourism to the United 
                                States.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 25, 1996

       Reported from the Committee on Commerce with an amendment

  Referral to the Committee on International Relations extended for a 
                period not later than September 25, 1996

 The Committee on International Relations discharged; committed to the 
 Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to 
                               be printed

                                                 Union Calendar No. 458
104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 2579

                      [Report No. 104-839, Part I]

   To establish the National Tourism Board and the National Tourism 
Organization to promote international travel and tourism to the United 
                                States.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 2, 1995

   Mr. Roth (for himself, Mr. Skelton, Mr. Clement, Mr. Petri, Mrs. 
Morella, Mr. Frazer, Mr. Gejdenson, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. 
    Oxley, Mrs. Vucanovich, Mr. Zeliff, Mr. Boehlert, Mr. Burton of 
  Indiana, Mr. Doolittle, Mr. Dixon, Mr. Roemer, Mrs. Seastrand, Mr. 
   McCollum, Mr. Pickett, Mr. Oberstar, and Mr. Farr of California) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on International Relations, 
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case 
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 
                        the committee concerned

                           September 25, 1996

  Additional sponsors: Mr. Houghton, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Underwood, Ms. 
  Greene of Utah, Mr. Bateman, Ms. Norton, Mr. Gekas, Mr. Barcia, Mr. 
 Richardson, Mr. Frost, Mr. Foley, Mr. Towns, Mr. Pete Geren of Texas, 
   Mr. Rangel, Mr. Bereuter, Mr. Cramer, Mrs. Meyers of Kansas, Mr. 
   Luther, Mr. Canady of Florida, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Manton, Mr. 
   Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Bunn of Oregon, Mr. Kennedy of Rhode 
    Island, Mr. Dickey, Mr. de la Garza, Mr. Stupak, Ms. Furse, Mr. 
 Lipinski, Mr. Johnston of Florida, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Brewster, Mr. 
 Coyne, Mr. Romero-Barcelo, Mr. Costello, Mr. Bevill, Mr. Tucker, Mr. 
  Hilliard, Mr. Gene Green of Texas, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Jefferson, Mr. 
 Gordon, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Baker of Louisiana, Mr. Reed, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
Callahan, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Tejeda, Mr. Cooley of Oregon, Mr. Deutsch, 
Mr. Hall of Texas, Mr. Fox of Pennsylvania, Mr. Thornton, Mr. Lewis of 
 Georgia, Ms. Dunn of Washington, Mr. Clinger, Mr. Hobson, Mr. Riggs, 
   Mr. Cunningham, Mrs. Kelly, Mr. Castle, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Bono, Mr. 
Bartlett of Maryland, Mr. Dornan, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Tauzin, Mr. 
   Bishop, Mr. English of Pennsylvania, Mr. Fazio of California, Ms. 
 Harman, Mr. Scott, Mr. Souder, Mr. Wamp, Mr. Payne of New Jersey, Mr. 
Miller of California, Mr. Waxman, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Rahall, Mr. Frank of 
  Massachusetts, Mr. Quillen, Mr. Evans, Mr. Engel, Mr. Hayworth, Mr. 
  Wolf, Mr. Bilbray, Mr. Crane, Mrs. Mink of Hawaii, Mr. Hansen, Mr. 
  Dellums, Mr. Foglietta, Mr. Orton, Mr. LaTourette, Mr. Filner, Mr. 
Largent, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Payne of Virginia, Mr. Spratt, Mr. 
Borski, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Flanagan, Mr. Moran, Mr. Walsh, Mr. Gillmor, Mr. 
LaHood, Mr. Quinn, Mr. Poshard, Mr. Emerson, Mr. Sanford, Mr. LaFalce, 
   Mr. Lucas of Oklahoma, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Peterson of Minnesota, Mr. 
   Bilirakis, Mr. Fattah, Mr. Franks of Connecticut, Mr. Weller, Mr. 
 Barrett of Nebraska, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Mr. Browder, Mr. Brown 
  of Ohio, Mr. Parker, Mr. Ramstad, Mrs. Johnson of Connecticut, Mr. 
Frisa, Mr. Lewis of Kentucky, Ms. Woolsey, Mr. LoBiondo, Ms. Pryce, Ms. 
Lofgren, Mr. Olver, Mr. Doyle, Mr. Porter, Mr. Weldon of Pennsylvania, 
Mrs. Collins of Illinois, Mr. Clyburn, Mrs. Kennelly, Mr. Campbell, Mr. 
  Leach, Mr. Ward, Mr. Bachus, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Metcalf, Mr. 
 McHale, Mr. Studds, Mr. Kingston, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Hoyer, Ms. Pelosi, 
Mr. Mica, Mr. Jones, Mr. Meehan, Mr. Stenholm, Mr. Bunning of Kentucky, 
  Mr. Dicks, Mr. Gilchrest, Mr. King, Mr. Pallone, Mr. McDermott, Mr. 
Traficant, Mr. Holden, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Hall of Ohio, Mr. Smith of New 
 Jersey, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Bryant of Tennessee, Mr. Torres, Mr. Matsui, 
Mr. Shays, Mr. Kildee, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Taylor of North Carolina, Mr. 
    Jackson of Illinois, Ms. McKinney, Mr. Longley, Mr. Skaggs, Mr. 
  Gunderson, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Hefley, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Sawyer, Mr. 
   Burr, Mr. White, Mr. Spence, Mr. Graham, Mr. Rush, Mr. Collins of 
Georgia, Mr. Talent, Mr. Davis, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Laughlin, Mr. Zimmer, 
Mr. Torkildsen, Mr. Ehrlich, Mr. Manzullo, Mr. Linder, Mr. Everett, Mr. 
 Taylor of Mississippi, Mr. Visclosky, Mr. Kim, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. 
    McHugh, Mr. Funderburk, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. 
Norwood, Mr. Schaefer, Mr. Blute, Mr. Tanner, Mr. Goodlatte, Mr. Shaw, 
Mr. Latham, Mr. Pastor, Mr. Upton, Mr. Minge, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Horn, Mr. 
    Baldacci, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Pomeroy, Mr. Sanders, Mrs. Meek of 
Florida, Mr. Sisisky, Mr. Volkmer, Mr. Wise, Mr. Martini, Mr. Mollohan, 
Mr. McInnis, Mr. Gutknecht, Mr. Neal of Massachusetts, Mrs. Schroeder, 
 Mr. Skeen, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Calvert, Mr. 
  Hoke, Mr. Fawell, Mr. Lazio of New York, Mr. Camp, and Mr. Deal of 
                                Georgia

                           September 25, 1996

       Reported from the Committee on Commerce with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

                           September 25, 1996

  Referral to the Committee on International Relations extended for a 
                period not later than September 25, 1996

                           September 25, 1996

 The Committee on International Relations discharged; committed to the 
 Committee of The Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to 
                               be printed
    [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on 
                           November 2, 1995]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
   To establish the National Tourism Board and the National Tourism 
Organization to promote international travel and tourism to the United 
                                States.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``United States National Tourism 
Organization Act of 1996''.

SEC. 2. UNITED STATES NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established with a Federal charter the 
United States National Tourism Organization. The Organization shall be 
a private not-for-profit organization. The Organization shall not be 
considered a Federal agency.
    (b) Duties.--The Organization shall--
            (1) seek to, and work for, an increase in the share of the 
        United States in the global tourism market;
            (2) develop and implement a national travel and tourism 
        strategy;
            (3) advise the President, the Congress, and the domestic 
        travel and tourism industry on the implementation of the 
        national travel and tourism strategy and on other matters 
        affecting travel and tourism;
            (4) operate travel and tourism promotion programs outside 
        the United States in partnership with the travel and tourism 
        industry in the United States;
            (5) conduct market research necessary for effective 
        promotion of the travel and tourism market; and
            (6) promote United States travel and tourism at 
        international trade shows.
    (c) Powers.--The Organization--
            (1) may sue and be sued, make contracts, acquire, hold, and 
        dispose of real and personal property as may be necessary for 
        its corporate purposes;
            (2) may provide financial assistance to any organization or 
        association in furtherance of the purpose of the corporation;
            (3) may adopt and alter a corporate seal;
            (4) may establish and maintain offices for the conduct of 
        the affairs of the Organization; and
            (5) may conduct any and all acts necessary and proper to 
        carry out the purposes of this Act.
    (d) Funding.--The Organization may accept financial contributions, 
and may accept gifts, legacies, and devices in furtherance of the 
purposes of this Act. The Organization may also accept such 
contributions on behalf of the Board to cover the expenses of the 
Board.
    (e) Political Activities Prohibited.--The Organization shall not 
engage in any activities designed in part or in whole to promote a 
political party or the candidacy of any person seeking or holding 
political office.

SEC. 3. UNITED STATES NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZATION BOARD.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the United States National 
Tourism Organization Board for the purposes of governing and 
supervising the activities of the Organization.
    (b) Members.--The Board members shall be initially appointed or 
elected as follows:
            (1) The Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade 
        of the Department of Commerce shall serve as a member ex 
        officio;
            (2) 5 State Travel Directors elected by the National 
        Council of State Travel Directors;
            (3) 5 members elected by the International Association of 
        Convention and Visitors Bureaus;
            (4) 3 members elected by the Air Transport Association;
            (5) 1 member elected by the National Association of 
        Recreational Vehicle Parks and Campgrounds; 1 member elected by 
        the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association;
            (6) 2 members elected by the International Association of 
        Amusement Parks and Attractions;
            (7) 3 members appointed by major companies in the travel 
        payments industry;
            (8) 5 members elected by the American Hotel and Motel 
        Association;
            (9) 2 members elected by the American Car Rental 
        Association; 1 member elected by the American Automobile 
        Association; 1 member elected by the American Bus Association; 
        1 member elected by Amtrak;
            (10) 1 member elected by the American Society of Travel 
        Agents and 1 member elected by the Association of Retail Travel 
        Agents;
            (11) 1 member elected by the National Tour Association; 1 
        member elected by the United States Tour Operators Association;
            (12) 1 member elected by the Cruise Lines International 
        Association, 1 member elected by the National Restaurant 
        Association, one member elected by the National Park 
        Hospitality Association, 1 member elected by the Airports 
        Council International; 1 member elected by the Meeting 
        Professionals International, 1 member elected by the American 
        Sightseeing International, and 4 members elected by the Travel 
        Industry Association of America;
            (13) 1 member appointed by the Speaker of the House;
            (14) 1 member appointed by the Senate majority leader;
            (15) 1 member appointed as a representative of the AFL-CIO; 
        and
            (16) 1 member appointed by the National Federation of 
        Independent Businesses.
    (c) Chair.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Board shall elect a Chair for a term 
        of 2 years. If at any time after such initial election there is 
        a subsequent vacancy in the office of the Chair, the President 
        of the Organization shall appoint an acting Chair until such 
        time as the Board reconvenes.
            (2) Removal.--Board members may only be removed upon 
        petition by the appointing official, with such petition 
        requiring a \2/3\ vote of the Board for the removal to become 
        effective.
    (d) President.--The Board shall appoint and establish the 
compensation and duties of a President who shall assist the Chair in 
organizing and carrying out the necessary functions of the Board. The 
duties of the President shall include serving as a member of the Trade 
Promotion Coordinating Committee.
    (e) Meetings.--The Board shall meet at the call of the Chair, but 
not less frequently than semiannually. The Board must meet within 3 
months of appointment of all members, but in any case no later than 6 
months after enactment of this Act.
    (f) Compensation and Expenses.--The Chair and members of the Board 
shall serve without compensation but may be compensated for expenses 
incurred in carrying out the duties of the Board.
    (g) Duties.--
            (1) The Board shall adopt such further bylaws and 
        delegation of authority for itself and the Organization as it 
        deems necessary and proper, which shall--
                    (A) require at least a three-fifths majority vote 
                for amendment;
                    (B) set forth the process for the number, terms, 
                and appointment or election of future Board members, 
                not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act (other 
                than subsection (b) of this section);
                    (C) provide the authority for the hiring and 
                compensation of additional staff; and
                    (D) establish the procedures for calling meetings 
                and providing appropriate notice, including procedures 
                for closing meetings where confidential information or 
                strategy will be discussed.
            (2) The Board shall designate a place of business for the 
        receipt of process, subject to the laws of the State or 
        district so designated, where such laws do not conflict with 
        the provisions of this Act.
            (3) The Board shall present testimony and make available 
        reports on its findings and recommendations to the Congress and 
        to legislatures of the States on at least a biannual basis.
            (4) Within one year of the date of its first meeting, the 
        Board shall report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Commerce 
        on a plan for long-term financing for the Organization, with a 
        focus on contributions from the private sector and State and 
        local entities, and, if necessary, make recommendations to the 
        Congress and the President for further legislation.
            (5) The Board may suspend or terminate the existence of the 
        Organization if sufficient private sector and local and State 
        government funds are not identified or made available to 
        continue the Organization's operations.
            (6) The Board shall appoint and set the terms for liaisons 
        to the Tourism Policy Council established under section 302.

SEC. 4. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT COOPERATION.

    (a) The Secretary of State, Director of the United States 
Information Agency, Secretary of Commerce, the United States Trade 
Representative, and the Trade and Development Agency shall--
            (1) give priority consideration to recommendations of the 
        Organization; and
            (2) cooperate with the Organization in carrying out its 
        duties.
    (b) The Under Secretary for International Trade, the Assistant 
Secretary for Trade Development, the United States and Foreign 
Commercial Service, the Director of the United States Information 
Agency, the United States Trade Representative, and the Trade and 
Development Agency shall report within 2 years of enactment of this 
Act, and every 2 years thereafter to the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Commerce on any 
travel and tourism activities carried out with the participation of the 
United States Federal Government.

SEC. 5. TRADE PROMOTION COORDINATING COMMITTEE.

    Section 2312 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 4727) 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c) by adding at the end thereof:
            ``(6) give priority consideration to the recommendations of 
        the United States National Tourism Organization.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (d)(1) by striking ``and'' in ``(L)'', by 
        redesignating ``(M)'' as ``(N)'', and by inserting the 
        following:
                    ``(M) the President of the United States National 
                Tourism Organization; and''.

SEC. 6. REPEAL OF UNITED STATES TRAVEL AND TOURISM ADMINISTRATION AND 
              RELATED PROVISIONS.

    Sections 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 301, 303, 304, 305, 306, and 307 
of the International Travel Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C 2123, 2123a-2123d, 
2124, 2124b, 2124c, and 2125-2129) are repealed.

SEC. 7. POWERS AND DUTIES OF SECRETARY OF COMMERCE.

    Section 201 of the International Travel Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2122) is amended to read as follows:
    ``Sec. 201. In order to carry out the national tourism policy 
established in section 101(b) and by the United States National Tourism 
Organization Act of 1996, the Secretary of Commerce (hereafter in this 
Act referred to as the `Secretary') shall develop and implement a 
comprehensive plan to perform critical tourism promotion functions 
which, in the determination of the Secretary, are not being carried out 
by the United States National Tourism Organization or other private 
sector entities or State governments. Such plan may include programs 
to--
            ``(1) collect and publish comprehensive international 
        travel and tourism statistics and other marketing information;
            ``(2) design, implement, and publish international travel 
        and tourism forecasting models;
            ``(3) facilitate the reduction or elimination of barriers 
        to international travel and tourism; and
            ``(4) work with the United States National Tourism 
        Organization, the Tourism Policy Council, State tourism 
        agencies, and Federal agencies in--
                    ``(A) coordinating the Federal implementation of a 
                national travel and tourism policy;
                    ``(B) representing the United States' international 
                travel and tourism interests to foreign governments; 
                and
                    ``(C) maintaining United States participation in 
                international travel and tourism trade shows and fairs 
                until such activities can be transferred to such 
                Organization and other private sector entities.''.

SEC. 8. TOURISM POLICY COUNCIL.

    Section 302 of the International Travel Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
2124a) is repealed and the following is inserted:
    ``Sec. 301. (a) In order to ensure that the United States' national 
interest in tourism is fully considered in Federal decision making, 
there is established a coordinating council to be known as the Tourism 
Policy Council (hereafter in this Act referred to as the `Council').
    ``(b) The Council shall consist of the following individuals:
            ``(1) The Secretary of Commerce, who shall serve as the 
        Chairman of the Council.
            ``(2) The Under Secretary of Commerce for International 
        Trade.
            ``(3) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
            ``(4) The Secretary of State.
            ``(5) The Secretary of Interior.
            ``(6) The Secretary of Labor.
            ``(7) The Secretary of Transportation.
            ``(8) The Commissioner of the United States Customs 
        Service.
            ``(9) The Commissioner of the Immigration and 
        Naturalization Service.
            ``(10) Representatives of other Federal agencies which have 
        affected interests at each meeting as deemed appropriate and 
        invited by the Chairman.
    ``(c) The Chairman is encouraged to consult with, and, to the 
extent the Chairman determines is appropriate, invite the direct 
participation in Council meetings of, the liaisons to the Council 
appointed under section 3(g) of the United States National Tourism 
Organization Act of 1996.
    ``(d) Members of the Council shall serve without additional 
compensation.
    ``(e) The Council shall conduct its first meeting not later than 90 
days after the date of the enactment of the United States National 
Tourism Organization Act of 1996. Thereafter the Council shall meet not 
less than 2 times each year.
    ``(f)(1) The Council shall coordinate national policies and 
programs relating to international travel and tourism, recreation, and 
national heritage resources, which involve Federal agencies;
    ``(2) The Council may request directly from any Federal department 
or agency such personnel, information, services, or facilities as 
deemed necessary by the Chairman and to the extent permitted by law and 
within the limits of available funds.
    ``(3) Federal departments and agencies may, in their discretion, 
detail to temporary duty with the Council such personnel as the 
Chairman may request for carrying out the functions of the Council. 
Each such detail of personnel shall be without loss of seniority, pay, 
or other employee status.
    ``(g) Where necessary to prevent the public disclosure of non-
public information which may be presented by a Council member, the 
Council may hold, at the discretion of the Chairman, a closed meeting 
which may exclude any individual who is not an officer or employee of 
the United States.
    ``(h) The Council shall submit an annual report for the preceding 
fiscal year to the President for transmittal to the Congress on or 
before December 31 of each year. The report shall include--
            ``(1) a comprehensive and detailed report of the activities 
        and accomplishments of the Council;
            ``(2) the results of Council efforts to coordinate the 
        policies and programs of member's agencies that have a 
        significant effect on international travel and tourism, 
        recreation, and national heritage resources, including progress 
        towards resolving interagency conflicts and development of 
        cooperative program activity;
            ``(3) an analysis of problems referred to the Council by 
        State and local governments, the tourism industry, the United 
        States National Tourism Organization, the Secretary of 
        Commerce, along with a detailed summary of any action taken or 
        anticipated to resolve such problems; and
            ``(4) any recommendation as deemed appropriate by the 
        Council.''.

SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``Organization'' means the United States 
        National Tourism Organization established under section 2; and
            (2) the term ``Board'' means the United States National 
        Tourism Organization Board established under section 3.
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