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. ABER-
CROMBIE, 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. MEY-
ERS
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. THORN-
TON, 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 Pennsylva-
nia, 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. DEL-
LUMS, 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 Penn-
sylvania, 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. HOLD-
EN, 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. MAR-
TINI, 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 Com-
mittee 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 Representa-
tives 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 ORGANIZA-
TION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established with a
Federal charter the United States National Tourism Orga-
nization. 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 mar-
ket;
(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 imple-
mentation of the national travel and tourism strategy
and on other matters affecting travel and tourism;
(4) operate travel and tourism promotion pro-
grams outside the United States in partnership with
the travel and tourism industry in the United States;
(5) conduct market research necessary for effec-
tive 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, ac-
quire, hold, and dispose of real and personal property
as may be necessary for its corporate purposes;
(2) may provide financial assistance to any or-
ganization or association in furtherance of the pur-
pose 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 finan-
cial contributions, and may accept gifts, legacies, and de-
vices in furtherance of the purposes of this Act. The Organi-
zation may also accept such contributions on behalf of the
Board to cover the expenses of the Board.
(e) POLITICAL ACTIVITIES PROHIBITED.—The Organi-
zation 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 ORGANIZA-
TION BOARD.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the United
States National Tourism Organization Board for the pur-
poses of governing and supervising the activities of the Or-
ganization.
(b) MEMBERS.—The Board members shall be initially
appointed or elected as follows:
(1) The Under Secretary of Commerce for Inter-
national Trade of the Department of Commerce shall
serve as a member ex officio;
(2) 5 State Travel Directors elected by the Na-
tional Council of State Travel Directors;
(3) 5 members elected by the International Asso-
ciation of Convention and Visitors Bureaus;
(4) 3 members elected by the Air Transport Asso-
ciation;
(5) 1 member elected by the National Association
of Recreational Vehicle Parks and Campgrounds; 1
member elected by the Recreation Vehicle Industry As-
sociation;
(6) 2 members elected by the International Asso-
ciation 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 Am-
trak;
(10) 1 member elected by the American Society
of Travel Agents and 1 member elected by the Associa-
tion of Retail Travel Agents;
(11) 1 member elected by the National Tour As-
sociation; 1 member elected by the United States Tour
Operators Association;
(12) 1 member elected by the Cruise Lines Inter-
national Association, 1 member elected by the Na-
such petition requiring a 2⁄3 vote of the Board for the
removal to become effective.
(d) PRESIDENT.—The Board shall appoint and estab-
lish the compensation and duties of a President who shall
assist the Chair in organizing and carrying out the nec-
essary 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 en-
actment 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 Organi-
zation 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 provi-
sions 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, in-
cluding procedures for closing meetings where
confidential information or strategy will be dis-
cussed.
(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 recommenda-
tions 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 meet-
ing, 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 recommenda-
tions to the Congress and the President for further
legislation.
(5) The Board may suspend or terminate the ex-
istence of the Organization if sufficient private sector
and local and State government funds are not identi-
fied 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 De-
velopment Agency shall—
(1) give priority consideration to recommenda-
tions 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 Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation and the House Com-
mittee on Commerce on any travel and tourism activities
carried out with the participation of the United States Fed-
eral 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 there-
of:
‘‘(6) give priority consideration to the rec-
ommendations 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 in-
serting the following:
‘‘(M) the President of the United States Na-
tional Tourism Organization; and’’.
SEC. 6. REPEAL OF UNITED STATES TRAVEL AND TOURISM
ADMINISTRATION 
AND 
RELATED 
PROVI-
SIONS.
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 COM-
MERCE.
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 Sec-
retary 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 Organi-
zation or other private sector entities or State governments.
Such plan may include programs to—
‘‘(1) collect and publish comprehensive inter-
national travel and tourism statistics and other mar-
keting information;
‘‘(2) design, implement, and publish inter-
national 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 Tour-
ism Organization, the Tourism Policy Council, State
tourism agencies, and Federal agencies in—
‘‘(A) coordinating the Federal implementa-
tion of a national travel and tourism policy;
‘‘(B) representing the United States’ inter-
national travel and tourism interests to foreign
governments; and
‘‘(C) maintaining United States participa-
tion in international travel and tourism trade
shows and fairs until such activities can be
transferred to such Organization and other pri-
vate 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 (here-
after in this Act referred to as the ‘Council’).
‘‘(b) The Council shall consist of the following individ-
uals:
‘‘(1) The Secretary of Commerce, who shall serve
as the Chairman of the Council.
‘‘(2) The Under Secretary of Commerce for Inter-
national 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 Cus-
toms 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, in-
vite the direct participation in Council meetings of, the li-
aisons 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 addi-
tional 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 Fed-
eral 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 con-
flicts and development of cooperative program activ-
ity;
‘‘(3) an analysis of problems referred to the
Council by State and local governments, the tourism
industry, the United States National Tourism Orga-
nization, the Secretary of Commerce, along with a de-
tailed 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.