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For Immediate Release
06/27/07
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Joe Brenckle - Republican Press Office 202-224-3991
Brian Eaton w/Stevens 202-224-0445
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Committee Approves Stevens - Inouye Bill to Encourage Travel to the U.S.
Panel Adds Stevens-Inouye Amendment to Hire 200 Customs Officers at Nation’s Busiest Airports |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation today approved the Travel Promotion Act of 2007 (S. 1661) cosponsored by Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and sponsored by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.). The overall bill would encourage international travelers to visit the United States and establish the non-profit Corporation for Travel Promotion to facilitate and encourage increased travel by foreign tourists. The legislation now awaits consideration by the full Senate.
The Committee also approved an amendment to the bill with two provisions authored by Senator Stevens and Senator Inouye. The first provision would establish a “Model Ports” program at the 20 United States airports with the highest volume of international travelers, while the second would allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to hire 200 additional Customs and Border Protection officers for those airports.
“This legislation will help increase the number of foreign tourists who visit the United States by creating a robust travel promotion campaign,” said Senator Stevens. “This bill is particularly important to my home State of Alaska, where the travel and tourism industry is the second largest private sector employer. More than 24,000 Alaskans hold tourism-related jobs, and the industry contributes more than $2 billion to our State’s economy each year.”
The non-profit Corporation for Travel Promotion created by this legislation would be supported through private industry contributions and public funds that will be placed into a dedicated “Travel Promotion Fund.” The Fund will be sustained though annual private industry contributions matched by user-fees that will be collected through the soon to be implemented automated Electronic Traveler Authorization (ETA) program. No fees will be collected from American taxpayers. The Department of Homeland Security is currently developing the ETA program for Visa Waiver Program (VWP) travelers to give advance information on their travels to the United States. In return, the VWP travelers will be given authorization electronically to travel to the United States. The authority allowing the Department of Homeland Security to collect fees with this program has been included in this legislation.
S.1661 will also establish the Office of Travel Promotion within the Department of Commerce, which will be led by the Under Secretary for Travel Promotion. The Under Secretary will work to improve the entry procedures for international visitors and develop a plan to increase the number of foreign tourists to the United States. Finally, this legislation will ensure that the Office of Travel and Tourism Industries expands its research activities to further promote international travel to the United States.
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| 27th - |
current Press Release |
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| 22nd - |
Vice Admiral Lautenbacher to Testify at NOAA Budget and Oversight Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee announced today that Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.), Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will testify at the Oversight Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget for the National Oceanic and Atmo...
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| 20th - |
Inouye, Stevens, and Dorgan Introduce Travel Promotion Act
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) joined Committee Vice Chairman Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to cosponsor the Travel Promotion Act of 2007, introduced by Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism Subcommittee Chairman Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.). The measure would create an independent body to manage and coordinate a nationwide travel promotions campaign, ...
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| 20th - |
Senate Commerce Committee Announces June 27 Markup
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces an Executive Session for Wednesday, June 27, 2007, at 2:30 p.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building.
During the Executive Session, Committee members will markup the following agenda items:
1. S. 950, Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2007
2. S....
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| 19th - |
Witnesses Announced for Hearing on Energy Efficiency Technologies
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Witnesses will discuss currently available technologies, and both state-sponsored and corporate programs that reduce total energy use and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy Efficiency ...
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| 19th - |
Commerce Committee Releases Witness List for Caller ID Spoofing Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation released today the witness list for the full Committee hearing on Caller ID Spoofing. The witnesses are listed below.
The hearing will examine legislation introduced by Senator Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), S. 704, the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2007. The Act seeks to protect consumers from deceptive practices invol...
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| 18th - |
Aviation Subcommittee Announces Witnesses for Foreign Repair Stations Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee released today a witnesses list for the hearing on Oversight of Foreign Aviation Repair Stations.
The Subcommittee will examine the growing aviation industry practice of outsourcing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) work. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for and provides oversight...
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| 18th - |
Senate Commerce Committee Announces Caller ID Spoofing, Media Violence Hearings
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The Caller ID Spoofing and Number Porting hearing will focus on legislation introduced by Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), S. 704, the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2007. The Act...
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| 13th - |
Inouye Introduces by Request Administration’s Offshore Aquaculture Act
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| 12th - |
Lautenberg Introduces Maritime Hazardous Cargo Security Act
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) joined Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security Subcommittee Chairman Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) to introduce today the Maritime Hazardous Cargo Security Act of 2007, which would improve the safety and security for shipping facilities and vessels handling hazardous materials.
&ldqu...
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| 12th - |
Aviation Subcommittee to Hold Oversight Hearing on Foreign Repair Stations
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces an Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security Subcommittee hearing on the Oversight of Foreign Aviation Repair Stations.
The Subcommittee will examine the growing aviation industry practice of outsourcing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) work. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is r...
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| 12th - |
Oceans Subcommittee to Hold NOAA Budget and Oversight Hearing
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a federal agency within the Department of Commerce, provides vital s...
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| 12th - |
Innovation Subcommittee to Explore Energy Technology Programs
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces a Science, Technology, and Innovation Subcommittee hearing on Energy Efficiency Technologies and Programs.
Members of the Subcommittee will consider currently available technologies, and both state-sponsored and corporate programs that reduce total energy use and decrease greenhouse gas emissions....
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| 11th - |
Commerce Committee Announces Witnesses for Hearing on 700 MHz Auction
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) released today a witness list for the full committee hearing on The 700 MHz Auction: Public Safety and Competition Issues.
Scheduled for Thursday, June, 14, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building, the hearing will examine a variety of issues related to the auction of spectrum at the...
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| 8th - |
Commerce Committee Announces USF Hearing Witness List
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) released today a witness list for the full committee hearing on The Universal Service Fund: Assessing the Recommendations of the Federal-State Joint Board.
Scheduled for Tuesday, June, 12, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building, the hearing will examine the Federal-State Joint Boar...
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| 7th - |
Senate Commerce Committee Works to Protect Nation’s Oceans, Coastline
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Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amend...
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| 7th - |
Inouye and Stevens Sponsor Oceans Legislation
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Vice Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today introduced several oceans bills that would strengthen hydrographic surveys, improve management of invasive species in ballast water, and protect coral reefs. Today marks the last day of the 2007 Capitol Hill Ocean Week.
“...
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| 6th - |
NASA IG Investigation Oversight Hearing Witnesses List Revised
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| 4th - |
Inouye: Disappointed with Second Circuit Decision
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"It is disappointing that a divided Second Circuit panel chose to invalidate the...
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| 4th - |
Senate Commerce Committee Schedules USF, 700 MHz Action Hearings
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation announces two Full Committee communications hearings - Universal Service Fund: Assessing the Recommendations of the Federal-State Joint Board and The 700 MHz Auction: Public Safety and Competition Issues.
The Universal Service Fund: Assessing the Recommendations of the Federal-State Joint Board hearing is sc...
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| 4th - |
Commerce Committee Postpones U.S. Trade Relations with China Hearing
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has postponed the Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism Subcommittee hearing on U.S. Trade Relations with China originally scheduled for Thursday, June 12, 2007, at 2:30 p.m.
A rescheduled date and time will be forthcoming.
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