I
105TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4631
To create employment opportunities and to promote economic growth in
the United States by establishing a public-private partnership between
the United States travel and tourism industry and every level of govern-
ment to work to make the United States the premiere travel and tourism
destination in the world, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 25, 1998
Mr. FARR of California (for himself and Mr. FOLEY) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce
A BILL
To create employment opportunities and to promote economic
growth in the United States by establishing a public-
private partnership between the United States travel and
tourism industry and every level of government to work
to make the United States the premiere travel and tour-
ism destination in the world, and for other purposes.
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 ‘‘Value in Supporting
International Tourism in the United States Act of 1998’’
or ‘‘Visit USA Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) the travel and tourism industry, as one of
the Nation’s largest employers, has made a substan-
tial contribution to the health of the Nation’s econ-
omy in that:
(A) 
the 
industry 
directly 
employs
7,000,000 Americans, throughout every region
of the country, heavily concentrated among
small businesses, and indirectly employs an ad-
ditional 9,200,000 Americans, for a total of
16,200,000 jobs;
(B) the industry ranks as the first, second,
or third largest employer in 32 States and the
District of Columbia, generating a total
tourism-related 
annual 
payroll 
of
$127,900,000,000;
(C) the industry has become the Nation’s
third largest retail sales industry, generating a
total of $489,000,000,000 each year in total ex-
penditures; and
(D) in 1977 the industry generated
$71,700,000,000 in tax revenues for Federal,
State, and local governments;
(2) through an effective public-private partner-
ship, Federal, State, and local governments and the
(9) a well-funded, well-coordinated international
marketing effort—developed and implemented by a
joint public-private sector effort—would help small
and large businesses, as well as State and local gov-
ernments, share in the projected growth of the inter-
national travel and tourism market in the 21st cen-
tury;
(10) Congress can increase the opportunities
for attracting international visitors and enhancing
their stay in the United States by—
(A) continuing the successful visa waiver
pilot program;
(B) improving international signage at air-
ports, seaports, land border crossings, high-
ways, and bus, train, and other public transit
stations in the United States;
(C) increasing the availability of multi-
lingual tourist information; and
(D) creating a toll-free, private sector op-
erated, emergency telephone number, staffed by
multilingual operators, to provide assistance to
international tourists;
(11) by establishing a satellite system of ac-
counting for travel and tourism, the Secretary of
Commerce could provide Congress and the President
with objective, thorough data that would help policy-
makers more accurately gauge the size and scope of
the domestic travel and tourism industry and its sig-
nificant impact on the health of the Nation’s econ-
omy; and
(12) having established the United States Na-
tional Tourism Organization under the United
States National Tourism Organization Act of 1996
(22 U.S.C. 2141 et seq.) to increase the United
States share of the international tourism market by
developing a national travel and tourism strategy,
Congress should support a long-term marketing ef-
fort and other important regulatory reform initia-
tives to promote increased international travel to the
United States.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to facili-
tate international visitors’ travel in the United States and
promote an international marketing program to make the
United States the premiere travel destination in the world.
TITLE I—INTERNATIONAL
VISITOR INITIATIVES
SEC. 101. INTERNATIONAL VISITOR ASSISTANCE TASK
FORCE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 9 months after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Com-
merce shall establish an Intergovernmental Task Force for
International Visitor Assistance (hereafter in this section
referred to as the ‘‘Task Force’’).
(b) DUTIES.—The Task Force shall examine—
(1) signage at facilities in the United States, in-
cluding airports, seaports, land border crossings,
highways, and bus, train, and other public transit
stations, and shall identify existing inadequacies and
suggest solutions for such inadequacies, such as the
adoption of uniform standards on international sign-
age for use throughout the United States in order
to facilitate international visitors’ travel in the
United States;
(2) the availability of multilingual travel and
tourism information and means of disseminating, at
no or minimal cost to the Government, such infor-
mation; and
(3) the feasibility of establishing a toll-free, pri-
vate sector operated telephone number, staffed by
multilingual operators, to provide assistance to inter-
national tourists coping with an emergency.
(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Task Force shall be com-
posed of the following members:
(1) The Secretary of Commerce.
(2) The Secretary of State.
(3) The Secretary of Transportation.
(4) The Chair of the Board of Directors of the
United States National Tourism Organization.
(5) 1 representative from each of 4 organiza-
tions serving on the United States National Tourism
Organization Board of Directors, chosen by consen-
sus of the Board.
(6) Such other representatives of other Federal
agencies and private sector entities as may be deter-
mined to be appropriate to the mission of the Task
Force by the Chairman.
(d) CHAIRMAN.—The Secretary of Commerce shall be
Chairman of the Task Force. The Task Force shall meet
at least twice each year. Each member of the Task Force
shall furnish necessary assistance to the Task Force.
(e) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the
Task Force shall submit to the President and to Congress
a report on the results of the review under subsection (b),
including proposed amendments to existing laws or regula-
tions as may be appropriate to implement such rec-
ommendations.
SEC. 102. TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY SATELLITE SYS-
TEM OF ACCOUNTING.
The Secretary of Commerce shall complete, as soon
as may be practicable, a satellite system of accounting for
the travel and tourism industry which will highlight the
amounts spent for travel and tourism.
TITLE II—INTERNATIONAL
MARKETING PROGRAM
SEC. 201. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—Subject to subsection (b),
there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may
be necessary for the purpose of funding international pro-
motional activities by the United States National Tourism
Organization to help brand, position, and promote the
United States as the premiere travel and tourism destina-
tion in the world.
(b) RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF FUNDS.—None of the
funds appropriated under subsection (a) may be—
(1) disbursed until matching funds are commit-
ted by the private sector—for each dollar collected
from the private sector, $1 in appropriated funds
may be disbursed;
(2) used for the general and administrative ex-
penses of operating the United States National
Tourism Organization;
(3) used for purposes other than researching
and marketing designed to promote the United
States as the premiere travel and tourism destina-
tion in the world.
The general and administrative expenses of the Organiza-
tion shall be borne by the private sector through such
means as the Board of Directors of the Organization shall
determine.
(c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than March
30 of each year in which funds are made available under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Commit-
tee on Commerce of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate a detailed report setting forth—
(1) an analysis of the impact of international
tourism on the United States economy, including, as
specifically as practicable, changes in the United
States market share of international tourism in gen-
eral and as measured against specific countries and
regions;
(2) an analysis of the impact of expenditures
made pursuant to this section on international tour-
ism on the United States trade balance;
(3) an analysis of other relevant economic im-
pacts as a result of expenditures made pursuant to
this section; and
(4) the expenditure of appropriated funds.
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