The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“UNITED STATES-MEXICO TOURISM IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2019” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E742 on June 11, 2019.
The Department includes the Census Bureau, which is used to determine many factors about American life. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, said the Department is involved in misguided foreign trade policies and is home to many unneeded programs.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
UNITED STATES-MEXICO TOURISM IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2019
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speech of
HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE
of texas
in the house of representatives
Monday, June 10, 2019
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 951, the ``United States-Mexico Tourism Improvement Act of 2019.''
H.R. 951 addresses the decline in tourist activity between the United States and Mexico.
The bill aims to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the United States and Mexican tourism industries by advocating for increased cooperation through both government and non-governmental channels.
Specifically, the legislation seeks to--
improve third-party tourism to both countries through joint international promotional efforts;
prioritize exchange programs in various economic sectors; and
promote cross-border medical partnerships.
Mexico is the biggest source of international visitors to the United States after Canada.
In 2016, Mexican tourism to the United States peaked at 18,990,585 visitors, constituting 1 in 4 (24.9 percent) of all tourists that year.
Additionally, in 2016, spending by Mexican tourists in the United States totaled $20.3 billion, which represented a 3 percent growth from 2015.
In 2017, international tourist arrivals totaled 76,900,000, up 0.7 percent from 76,400,000 in 2016.
The same year, 77,000,000 international visitors spent a record
$251.4 billion on hotels, travel, food, and souvenirs, a 2-percent increase over 2016.
However, also in 2017, there was a 6.1-percent decline in visitors to the United States from Mexico, comprising a loss of 1,166,585 Mexican tourists from 2016.
The Department of Commerce has not yet released 2017 spending totals by Mexican tourists in the United States, but a corresponding monetary decline would be approximately $1.24 billion in lost revenue.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 951 to promote bilateral tourism through the United States and Mexico.
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