PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Cathy Keefe
Travel Industry Association
202-408-2183, ckeefe@tia.org

July 30, 2007

TRAVEL INDUSTRY APPLAUDS CONGRESSIONAL
PASSAGE OF 9/11 LEGISLATION

Bill Includes Provisions to Improve U.S. Visa Policy and Entry Procedures

Washington, DC — The travel and tourism industry applauds the House and Senate for agreeing to the conference report accompanying H.R. 1, the Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007. By a vote of 85 to 8, the Senate agreed to the same conference report, which combines House and Senate versions of the bills, H.R. 1 and S. 4, respectively. House approval on July 27, by a vote of 371 to 40, sends the bill to the President for his signature. It includes provisions vital to protecting our nation’s economy and supporting our public diplomacy efforts abroad by increasing international travel to the U.S.

The provisions advocated for by the U.S. travel and tourism industry include:

• Strengthening and Expanding the Visa Waiver Program (VWP): This change will result in allowing more legitimate business and leisure travelers to visit the U.S. visa-free while tightening security through an air exit tracking system, increased information sharing between nations and other controls. The amendment was authored by Senators Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Susan Collins (R-ME), George Voinovich (R-OH), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ).
• Expanding Model Airports Program to Top 20 Overseas Inbound Airports: This provision will provide a more efficient and welcoming arrival process at America’s top 20 overseas inbound airports, which welcome 90 percent of all overseas arrivals to the U.S. The program would include enhanced queue management and instructional and welcome videos in the Federal Inspection Services area. In addition, the provision provides for no fewer than 200 additional U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to help alleviate excessive wait times at these airports. This amendment was authored by Senators Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Ted Stevens (R-AK).

“The Travel Business Roundtable and Travel Industry Association applaud leaders in the House and Senate, especially the leaders of the conference, who have worked tirelessly to approve a 9/11 bill that protects our nation’s borders while simultaneously recognizing the need to increase international travel to the U.S.,” said Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable and chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels.

“Our nation can secure our borders without closing them to international travelers. We recognize the bipartisan and bicameral efforts to create the 9/11 bill and urge the President to sign the legislation into law,” said Roger J. Dow, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association.

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The Travel Business Roundtable (TBR), a strategic partner to the Travel Industry Association, is a CEO-based organization representing all sectors of the travel and tourism industry. TBR’s mission is to educate public officials and policymakers about the important social and economic contributions of the travel and tourism industry. For more information, visit www.tbr.org.

The Travel Industry Association is the national, non-profit organization representing all components of the $700 billion travel industry. TIA's mission is to promote and facilitate increased travel to and within the United States. TIA is proud to be a partner in travel with American Express. For more information, visit www.tia.org.

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