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 travel and tourism to the United States.National Tourism Organization to promote interSEPTEMBER 25, 1996

Reported from the Committee on Commerce with an

amendment

Referral to the Committee on International Relations

The Committee on International Relations discharged;

extended for a period not later than September 25, 1996

the State of the Union and ordered to be printedcommitted to the Committee of the Whole House on
IB

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. ROMEROBARCELO ́, 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,
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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
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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.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘United States National

5 Tourism Organization Act of 1996’’.

6 SEC. 2. UNITED STATES NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZA7 TION.

8 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established with a

9 Federal charter the United States National Tourism Orga10 nization. The Organization shall be a private not-for-profit

11 organization. The Organization shall not be considered a

12 Federal agency.

13 (b) DUTIES.—The Organization shall—

14 (1) seek to, and work for, an increase in the

15 share of the United States in the global tourism mar16 ket;
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1 (2) develop and implement a national travel and

2 tourism strategy;

3 (3) advise the President, the Congress, and the

4 domestic travel and tourism industry on the imple5 mentation of the national travel and tourism strategy

6 and on other matters affecting travel and tourism;

7 (4) operate travel and tourism promotion pro8 grams outside the United States in partnership with

9 the travel and tourism industry in the United States;

10 (5) conduct market research necessary for effec11 tive promotion of the travel and tourism market; and

12 (6) promote United States travel and tourism at

13 international trade shows.

14 (c) POWERS.—The Organization—

15 (1) may sue and be sued, make contracts, ac16 quire, hold, and dispose of real and personal property

17 as may be necessary for its corporate purposes;

18 (2) may provide financial assistance to any or19 ganization or association in furtherance of the pur20 pose of the corporation;

21 (3) may adopt and alter a corporate seal;

22 (4) may establish and maintain offices for the

23 conduct of the affairs of the Organization; and

24 (5) may conduct any and all acts necessary and

25 proper to carry out the purposes of this Act.
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1 (d) FUNDING.—The Organization may accept finan2 cial contributions, and may accept gifts, legacies, and de3 vices in furtherance of the purposes of this Act. The Organi4 zation may also accept such contributions on behalf of the

5 Board to cover the expenses of the Board.

6 (e) POLITICAL ACTIVITIES PROHIBITED.—The Organi7 zation shall not engage in any activities designed in part

8 or in whole to promote a political party or the candidacy

9 of any person seeking or holding political office.

10 SEC. 3. UNITED STATES NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANIZA11 TION BOARD.

12 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the United

13 States National Tourism Organization Board for the pur14 poses of governing and supervising the activities of the Or15 ganization.

16 (b) MEMBERS.—The Board members shall be initially

17 appointed or elected as follows:

18 (1) The Under Secretary of Commerce for Inter19 national Trade of the Department of Commerce shall

20 serve as a member ex officio;

21 (2) 5 State Travel Directors elected by the Na22 tional Council of State Travel Directors;

23 (3) 5 members elected by the International Asso24 ciation of Convention and Visitors Bureaus;
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1 (4) 3 members elected by the Air Transport Asso2 ciation;

3 (5) 1 member elected by the National Association

4 of Recreational Vehicle Parks and Campgrounds; 1

5 member elected by the Recreation Vehicle Industry As6 sociation;

7 (6) 2 members elected by the International Asso8 ciation of Amusement Parks and Attractions;

9 (7) 3 members appointed by major companies in

10 the travel payments industry;

11 (8) 5 members elected by the American Hotel

12 and Motel Association;

13 (9) 2 members elected by the American Car

14 Rental Association; 1 member elected by the American

15 Automobile Association; 1 member elected by the

16 American Bus Association; 1 member elected by Am17 trak;

18 (10) 1 member elected by the American Society

19 of Travel Agents and 1 member elected by the Associa20 tion of Retail Travel Agents;

21 (11) 1 member elected by the National Tour As22 sociation; 1 member elected by the United States Tour

23 Operators Association;

24 (12) 1 member elected by the Cruise Lines Inter25 national Association, 1 member elected by the Na-
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1 tional Restaurant Association, one member elected by

2 the National Park Hospitality Association, 1 member

3 elected by the Airports Council International; 1 mem4 ber elected by the Meeting Professionals International,

5 1 member elected by the American Sightseeing Inter6 national, and 4 members elected by the Travel Indus7 try Association of America;

8 (13) 1 member appointed by the Speaker of the

9 House;

10 (14) 1 member appointed by the Senate majority

11 leader;

12 (15) 1 member appointed as a representative of

13 the AFL–CIO; and

14 (16) 1 member appointed by the National Fed15 eration of Independent Businesses.

16 (c) CHAIR.—

17 (1) APPOINTMENT.—The Board shall elect a

18 Chair for a term of 2 years. If at any time after such

19 initial election there is a subsequent vacancy in the

20 office of the Chair, the President of the Organization

21 shall appoint an acting Chair until such time as the

22 Board reconvenes.

23 (2) REMOVAL.—Board members may only be re24 moved upon petition by the appointing official, with
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such petition requiring a 2 1 ⁄3 vote of the Board for the

2 removal to become effective.

3 (d) PRESIDENT.—The Board shall appoint and estab4 lish the compensation and duties of a President who shall

5 assist the Chair in organizing and carrying out the nec6 essary functions of the Board. The duties of the President

7 shall include serving as a member of the Trade Promotion

8 Coordinating Committee.

9 (e) MEETINGS.—The Board shall meet at the call of

10 the Chair, but not less frequently than semiannually. The

11 Board must meet within 3 months of appointment of all

12 members, but in any case no later than 6 months after en13 actment of this Act.

14 (f) COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES.—The Chair and

15 members of the Board shall serve without compensation but

16 may be compensated for expenses incurred in carrying out

17 the duties of the Board.

18 (g) DUTIES.—

19 (1) The Board shall adopt such further bylaws

20 and delegation of authority for itself and the Organi21 zation as it deems necessary and proper, which

22 shall—

23 (A) require at least a three-fifths majority

24 vote for amendment;
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1 (B) set forth the process for the number,

2 terms, and appointment or election of future

3 Board members, not inconsistent with the provi4 sions of this Act (other than subsection (b) of this

5 section);

6 (C) provide the authority for the hiring and

7 compensation of additional staff; and

8 (D) establish the procedures for calling

9 meetings and providing appropriate notice, in10 cluding procedures for closing meetings where

11 confidential information or strategy will be dis12 cussed.

13 (2) The Board shall designate a place of business

14 for the receipt of process, subject to the laws of the

15 State or district so designated, where such laws do not

16 conflict with the provisions of this Act.

17 (3) The Board shall present testimony and make

18 available reports on its findings and recommenda19 tions to the Congress and to legislatures of the States

20 on at least a biannual basis.

21 (4) Within one year of the date of its first meet22 ing, the Board shall report to the Senate Committee

23 on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the

24 House Committee on Commerce on a plan for long25 term financing for the Organization, with a focus on
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1 contributions from the private sector and State and

2 local entities, and, if necessary, make recommenda3 tions to the Congress and the President for further

4 legislation.

5 (5) The Board may suspend or terminate the ex6 istence of the Organization if sufficient private sector

7 and local and State government funds are not identi8 fied or made available to continue the Organization’s

9 operations.

10 (6) The Board shall appoint and set the terms

11 for liaisons to the Tourism Policy Council established

12 under section 302.

13 SEC. 4. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT COOPERATION.

14 (a) The Secretary of State, Director of the United

15 States Information Agency, Secretary of Commerce, the

16 United States Trade Representative, and the Trade and De17 velopment Agency shall—

18 (1) give priority consideration to recommenda19 tions of the Organization; and

20 (2) cooperate with the Organization in carrying

21 out its duties.

22 (b) The Under Secretary for International Trade, the

23 Assistant Secretary for Trade Development, the United

24 States and Foreign Commercial Service, the Director of the

25 United States Information Agency, the United States Trade
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1 Representative, and the Trade and Development Agency

2 shall report within 2 years of enactment of this Act, and

3 every 2 years thereafter to the Senate Committee on Com4 merce, Science, and Transportation and the House Com5 mittee on Commerce on any travel and tourism activities

6 carried out with the participation of the United States Fed7 eral Government.

8 SEC. 5. TRADE PROMOTION COORDINATING COMMITTEE.

9 Section 2312 of the Export Enhancement Act of 1988

10 (15 U.S.C. 4727) is amended—

11 (1) in subsection (c) by adding at the end there12 of:

13 ‘‘(6) give priority consideration to the rec14 ommendations of the United States National Tourism

15 Organization.’’; and

16 (2) in paragraph (d)(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ in

17 ‘‘(L)’’, by redesignating ‘‘(M)’’ as ‘‘(N)’’, and by in18 serting the following:

19 ‘‘(M) the President of the United States Na20 tional Tourism Organization; and’’.

21 SEC. 6. REPEAL OF UNITED STATES TRAVEL AND TOURISM

22 ADMINISTRATION AND RELATED PROVI23 SIONS.

24 Sections 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 301, 303, 304, 305,

25 306, and 307 of the International Travel Act of 1961 (22
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1 U.S.C 2123, 2123a–2123d, 2124, 2124b, 2124c, and 2125–

2 2129) are repealed.

3 SEC. 7. POWERS AND DUTIES OF SECRETARY OF COM4 MERCE.

5 Section 201 of the International Travel Act of 1961

6 (22 U.S.C. 2122) is amended to read as follows:

7 ‘‘SEC. 201. In order to carry out the national tourism

8 policy established in section 101(b) and by the United

9 States National Tourism Organization Act of 1996, the Sec10 retary of Commerce (hereafter in this Act referred to as the

11 ‘Secretary’) shall develop and implement a comprehensive

12 plan to perform critical tourism promotion functions

13 which, in the determination of the Secretary, are not being

14 carried out by the United States National Tourism Organi15 zation or other private sector entities or State governments.

16 Such plan may include programs to—

17 ‘‘(1) collect and publish comprehensive inter18 national travel and tourism statistics and other mar19 keting information;

20 ‘‘(2) design, implement, and publish inter21 national travel and tourism forecasting models;

22 ‘‘(3) facilitate the reduction or elimination of

23 barriers to international travel and tourism; and
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1 ‘‘(4) work with the United States National Tour2 ism Organization, the Tourism Policy Council, State

3 tourism agencies, and Federal agencies in—

4 ‘‘(A) coordinating the Federal implementa5 tion of a national travel and tourism policy;

6 ‘‘(B) representing the United States’ inter7 national travel and tourism interests to foreign

8 governments; and

9 ‘‘(C) maintaining United States participa10 tion in international travel and tourism trade

11 shows and fairs until such activities can be

12 transferred to such Organization and other pri13 vate sector entities.’’.

14 SEC. 8. TOURISM POLICY COUNCIL.

15 Section 302 of the International Travel Act of 1961

16 (22 U.S.C. 2124a) is repealed and the following is inserted:

17 ‘‘SEC. 301. (a) In order to ensure that the United

18 States’ national interest in tourism is fully considered in

19 Federal decision making, there is established a coordinating

20 council to be known as the Tourism Policy Council (here21 after in this Act referred to as the ‘Council’).

22 ‘‘(b) The Council shall consist of the following individ23 uals:

24 ‘‘(1) The Secretary of Commerce, who shall serve

25 as the Chairman of the Council.
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1 ‘‘(2) The Under Secretary of Commerce for Inter2 national Trade.

3 ‘‘(3) The Director of the Office of Management

4 and Budget.

5 ‘‘(4) The Secretary of State.

6 ‘‘(5) The Secretary of Interior.

7 ‘‘(6) The Secretary of Labor.

8 ‘‘(7) The Secretary of Transportation.

9 ‘‘(8) The Commissioner of the United States Cus10 toms Service.

11 ‘‘(9) The Commissioner of the Immigration and

12 Naturalization Service.

13 ‘‘(10) Representatives of other Federal agencies

14 which have affected interests at each meeting as

15 deemed appropriate and invited by the Chairman.

16 ‘‘(c) The Chairman is encouraged to consult with, and,

17 to the extent the Chairman determines is appropriate, in18 vite the direct participation in Council meetings of, the li19 aisons to the Council appointed under section 3(g) of the

20 United States National Tourism Organization Act of 1996.

21 ‘‘(d) Members of the Council shall serve without addi22 tional compensation.

23 ‘‘(e) The Council shall conduct its first meeting not

24 later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the

25 United States National Tourism Organization Act of 1996.
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1 Thereafter the Council shall meet not less than 2 times each

2 year.

3 ‘‘(f)(1) The Council shall coordinate national policies

4 and programs relating to international travel and tourism,

5 recreation, and national heritage resources, which involve

6 Federal agencies;

7 ‘‘(2) The Council may request directly from any Fed8 eral department or agency such personnel, information,

9 services, or facilities as deemed necessary by the Chairman

10 and to the extent permitted by law and within the limits

11 of available funds.

12 ‘‘(3) Federal departments and agencies may, in their

13 discretion, detail to temporary duty with the Council such

14 personnel as the Chairman may request for carrying out

15 the functions of the Council. Each such detail of personnel

16 shall be without loss of seniority, pay, or other employee

17 status.

18 ‘‘(g) Where necessary to prevent the public disclosure

19 of non-public information which may be presented by a

20 Council member, the Council may hold, at the discretion

21 of the Chairman, a closed meeting which may exclude any

22 individual who is not an officer or employee of the United

23 States.

24 ‘‘(h) The Council shall submit an annual report for

25 the preceding fiscal year to the President for transmittal
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1 to the Congress on or before December 31 of each year. The

2 report shall include—

3 ‘‘(1) a comprehensive and detailed report of the

4 activities and accomplishments of the Council;

5 ‘‘(2) the results of Council efforts to coordinate

6 the policies and programs of member’s agencies that

7 have a significant effect on international travel and

8 tourism, recreation, and national heritage resources,

9 including progress towards resolving interagency con10 flicts and development of cooperative program activ11 ity;

12 ‘‘(3) an analysis of problems referred to the

13 Council by State and local governments, the tourism

14 industry, the United States National Tourism Orga15 nization, the Secretary of Commerce, along with a de16 tailed summary of any action taken or anticipated to

17 resolve such problems; and

18 ‘‘(4) any recommendation as deemed appropriate

19 by the Council.’’.

20 SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

21 For purposes of this Act—

22 (1) the term ‘‘Organization’’ means the United

23 States National Tourism Organization established

24 under section 2; and
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1 (2) the term ‘‘Board’’ means the United States

2 National Tourism Organization Board established

3 under section 3.