Travel Promotion Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-3232
Sponsor: Rep. Delahunt, William D. [D-MA-10]
Introduced: 2007-07-31 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Aliens
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commerce
Corporations
Economics and Public Finance
Electronic data interchange
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Foreign trade promotion
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Government trust funds
Immigration
Marketing
Nonprofit organizations
Right to travel
Science, Technology, Communications
Social Welfare
Tourism
Travel
User charges

Summary:
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: 
Travel Promotion Act of 2007 - Establishes the Corporation for Travel Promotion as a nonprofit corporation that is not an agency or establishment of the U.S. government. Makes the Corporation subject to the provisions of the District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act.
 
Requires the Corporation, among other things, to provide useful information to people interested in traveling to the United States, identify and address perceptions in other countries regarding U.S. entry policies, and promote U.S. travel.
 
Establishes in the Treasury the Travel Promotion Fund. Requires the transfer of Treasury funds to the Corporation, requiring nonfederal matching funds.
 
Authorizes the U.S. government, if a fully automated electronic system is implemented to determine, in advance of travel, the eligibility of an alien to travel to the United States, to charge an applicant a system use fee.
 
Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to replace references to the United States National Tourism Organization with references to the Corporation. Modifies various requirements applicable to the Tourism Policy Council.
 
Amends the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2003 to remove provisions establishing the United States Travel and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board.

action_date: 2008-09-25
text: 
Travel Promotion Act of 2008 - Establishes the Corporation for Travel Promotion as a nonprofit corporation that is not an agency or establishment of the U.S. government. Makes the Corporation subject to the provisions of the District of Columbia Nonprofit Corporation Act.
 
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Corporation shall not engage in any lobbying activities with any employee or branch of the federal government.
 
Requires the Corporation, among other things, to provide information to people interested in traveling to the United States, identify and address perceptions in other countries regarding U.S. entry policies, and promote U.S. travel.
 
Requires annual reports from the Corporation to the Secretaries of Commerce and Homeland Security, for transmittal to Congress.
 
Establishes in the Treasury the Travel Promotion Fund. Sets forth funding and matching funds provisions.
 
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to collect a user fee of at least $10 from each alien utilizing the electronic travel authorization system for alien travel to the United States, to be used to offset appropriations made to the Corporation.
 
Prohibits amounts raised by the Fund or the Corporation from being used to directly promote or advertise a specific corporation.
 
Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to replace references to the United States National Tourism Organization with references to the Corporation. Modifies various requirements applicable to the Tourism Policy Council, including membership, meetings, and the provision of tourism information.
 
Amends the Department of Commerce and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2003 to remove provisions establishing the United States Travel and Tourism Promotion Advisory Board.
 
Directs the Government Accountability Office to: (1) initiate a study to assess barriers to entry into the United States by foreign travelers; and (2) report study findings to the appropriate congressional committees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-10-02
text: Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1113.
action_date: 2008-09-26
text: Received in the Senate.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H9929-9931)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H9929-9931)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3232.
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9929-9934)
action_date: 2008-09-25
text: Mr. Rush moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2008-09-23
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2008-09-16
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-09-12
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2007-09-10
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2007-08-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism.
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Homeland Security, 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.
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Homeland Security, 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.
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Homeland Security, 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.
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Homeland Security, 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.
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-07-31
text: Introduced in House