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“SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 108--TO DESIGNATE MAY 4-12, 2002, AS ``NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK''” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Senate section on pages S3965-S3966 on May 7, 2002.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 108--TO DESIGNATE MAY 4-12, 2002, AS
``NATIONAL TOURISM WEEK''
Mr. BURNS (for himself and Mr. Reid) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Con. Res. 108
Whereas travel and tourism has a major impact on the economy of the United States as the third largest retail sales industry in the Nation;
Whereas 1 out of every 7 people employed in the United States civilian labor force is employed in the travel and tourism industry;
Whereas international travel to the United States is the largest service export, having generated a trade surplus for 13 consecutive years;
Whereas domestic and international travel generated an estimated $545,000,000,000 in expenditures in 2001, supporting more than 7,800,000 jobs, and creating more than
$94,400,000,000 in tax revenue for Federal, State, and local governments;
Whereas the slowing of the United States economy and the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, have had a tremendous negative effect on the tourism industry;
Whereas according to the Travel Industry Association, the travel and tourism industry would suffer a $43,000,000,000 decrease in spending from domestic and international travelers due to the September 11, 2001, attacks;
Whereas the Department of Commerce has issued preliminary figures indicating that international travel to the United States decreased 11 percent between 2000 and 2001, resulting in a 45 percent decrease in the travel trade surplus (from
$14,000,000,000 to $7,700,000,000), and that it may take 3 years for international travel to return to the 2000 level;
Whereas decreased spending in 2001 caused the travel and tourism industry to lose an estimated 600,000 jobs, and resulted in an estimated 3 percent decrease in tax revenues from such industry;
Whereas National Tourism Week was established by Congress in 1983, and first celebrated in May 1984, when President Ronald Reagan signed a Presidential Proclamation urging citizens to observe the week ``with appropriate ceremonies and activities;
Whereas since 1984, National Tourism Week has been celebrated each May by the Travel Industry Association of America, as well as many States, cities, and other travel industry associations: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That Congress--
(1) designates May 4-12, 2002, as ``National Tourism Week; and
(2) requests that the President issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe National Tourism Week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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