SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The United States has experienced a 17 
percent decline in overseas visitors since September 
11, 2001. 
(2) Business travel to the United States fell 10 
percent from 2004 to 2005 while Europe witnessed 
an 8 percent increase over this same time period. 
(3) The United States market share of inter-
national travel has declined from 7.5 percent before 
September 11, 2001, to about 6 percent in 2007. 
(4) The economic impact of declining United 
States market share has resulted in 60 million fewer 
travelers, 194,000 lost jobs, $94 billion in lost 
spending, and $15.6 billion in lost tax receipts. 
(5) While in 2007 the United States will spend 
less than $4 million on international travel pro-
motion, currently Greece spends $151 million, Mex-
ico spends $149 million, Australia spends $113 mil-
lion, the United Kingdom spends $80 million, and 
Canada spends $60 million. 
(6) In a recent survey by the Discover America 
Partnership, international travelers ranked the 
United States as having the ‘‘world’s worst’’ entry 
process, and 66 percent of travelers in the survey 
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feared that a simple mistake could lead to being de-
tained for hours or worse. 
(7) The perception around the world is that the 
United States does not welcome international visi-
tors, but that perception could be changed by adopt-
ing an international travel promotion program. 
(8) An international travel promotion program 
can expect a 6:1 return on investment. 
(9) An international travel promotion program 
can be an effective tool to enhance the United States 
public diplomacy efforts. 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to enhance diplomatic re-
lations with foreign countries and promote domestic busi-
ness interests abroad, the Secretary of State (in this Act 
referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’), acting through the Under 
Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Af-
fairs, shall establish a competitive grant program to pro-
mote international travel to the United States in foreign 
countries. 
(b) RANGE OF GRANT MONETARY AMOUNTS.—No 
grant shall be less than $150,000 or more than 
$1,000,000. 
(c) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—A recipient of a grant under 
this Act shall use the funds to develop a promotion 
program focused on the overseas markets described 
in paragraph (2) to encourage international travel to 
the United States and to effectively communicate 
United States entry requirements, including required 
documentation, fees, and processes. 
(2) PHASE-IN
OF
MARKETS.—The promotion 
programs described in paragraph (1) shall target, in 
each of the following fiscal years that begin after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the following markets: 
(A) In the first fiscal year, Canada. 
(B) In the second fiscal year, Canada and 
Mexico. 
(C) In the third fiscal year, Canada, Mex-
ico, and the United Kingdom. 
(D) In the fourth fiscal year, Canada, 
Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Japan. 
(E) In the fifth fiscal year, Canada, Mex-
ico, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany. 
(d) ELIGIBILITY.—In order to be eligible to receive 
a grant under this Act, an entity shall prepare and submit 
an application at such time, in such form, and with such 
information and assurances as the Under Secretary of 
State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs may re-
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quire, including a description of the populations and for-
eign countries targeted by the promotion program, the 
marketing strategy, how the entity intends to execute its 
promotion program, and the expected return on invest-
ment. 
(e) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of receipt of 
a grant under this Act, the grant recipient shall pro-
vide (directly or through donations from public or 
private entities) non-Federal matching funds, which 
may include in-kind donations of goods and services 
valued at their fair market rate, in an amount equal 
to the amount of the grant. 
(2) SPECIAL RULE FOR IN-KIND DONATIONS.— 
Of the amount of non-Federal matching funds re-
quired to be provided by each grant recipient under 
paragraph (1), not more than 25 percent shall be 
provided through in-kind donations of goods and 
services. 
(f) RESERVATIONS.—The Secretary shall reserve 20 
percent of the funds used to award grants under this Act 
for grants for promotion programs for destinations that 
do not currently have the resources to market themselves 
internationally. 
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(g) REPORTS.—Not later than 6 months after the 
end of each fiscal year in which grants were awarded by 
the Secretary under this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
a report to Congress on— 
(1) whether the promotion programs increased 
the number of international travelers from the tar-
geted countries; 
(2) the return on investment analysis of the 
grant program; and 
(3) recommendations for changes in law nec-
essary to improve communication about United 
States entry requirements, including required docu-
mentation, fees, and processes. 
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated $10,000,000 for grants under this Act for each 
of the first 5 fiscal years that begin after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(b) CARRY OVER.—Amounts appropriated pursuant 
to the authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) 
shall remain available until expended. 
Æ 
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