I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3157
To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Travel and Tourism
Promotion Bureau.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 17, 2001
Mr. UNDERWOOD (for himself, Mr. ACEVEDO-VILA´, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr.
FALEOMAVAEGA, and Mr. RODRIGUEZ) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to establish a Travel
and Tourism Promotion Bureau.
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 ‘‘Rediscover America
Act of 2001’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that—
(1) the revitalization of the travel and tourism
industry following the September 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks on the United States is a national economic
necessity;
(2) in light of the effect that the attacks have
had on the tourism industry, it is important to put
measures immediately into place to restore consumer
confidence in travel and in the economy;
(3) safety and security in travel is of utmost
importance in order to restore consumer confidence
in the industry;
(4) the travel and tourism industry has a large
impact on the U.S. economy—adding nearly 5 per-
cent 
to 
the 
GDP, 
generating 
more 
than
$578,000,000 in revenues, supporting more than
17,000,000 jobs, and providing a $14,000,000 trade
surplus for the country; and
(5) more than 95 percent of the businesses in
travel and tourism are small to medium sized enter-
prises.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to assist
the travel and tourism industry in its effort to restore con-
sumer confidence in the wake of the September 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks on the United States.
SEC. 3. UNITED STATES TRAVEL AND TOURISM PRO-
MOTION BUREAU.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the
Department of Commerce a United States Travel and
Tourism Promotion Bureau.
(b) PURPOSE.—The Bureau shall—
(1) work to help restore consumer confidence in
travel in the two years following the September 11,
2001, terrorist attacks on the United States; and
(2) work in conjunction with private industry
and industry employee representatives to design and
implement public service announcements and adver-
tising to promote tourism, encouraging Americans
and foreign visitors to rediscover the nation’s treas-
ures.
(c) POWERS.—To carry out the purposes of this Act,
the Bureau may—
(1) distribute funds to any travel and tourism
related organization or association;
(2) enter into contracts with private organiza-
tions or business;
(3) utilize up to three existing employees of the
Department of Commerce, as may be assigned by
the Secretary; and
(4) conduct any and all acts necessary and
proper to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(d) VACANCIES.—If a vacancy occurs in the member-
ship of the Committee, the Secretary of Commerce shall
fill the vacancy, provided that the membership of the Com-
mittee remains consistent with subsection (b).
SEC. 5. QUARTERLY REPORTING PROVISION.
Not less than once every 90 days, the Bureau shall
report to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science and Transportation and the U.S. House of Rep-
resentatives Committee on Energy and Commerce on—
(1) the Bureau’s activities to promote travel
and tourism; and
(2) the state of the travel and tourism industry.
SEC. 6. SUNSET.
The provisions of this Act shall terminate two years
after the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(A) APPROPRIATION.—Of the funds provided in Pub-
lic Law 107–38, not less than $60,000,000 shall be used
for the purpose of carrying out this Act.
(b) AVAILABILITY
OF FUNDS.—The funds made
available pursuant to subsection (a) shall be available to
be expended in fiscal year 2002 and fiscal year 2003.
Æ