Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and to Chairman Henry Waxman and ranking member Joe Barton of the Energy and Commerce Committee asking that language including the U.S. territories be included in S. 1023, or the Travel Promotion Act of 2009.
The Senate legislation establishes a non-profit Corporation for Travel Promotion in the U.S. Department of Commerce to encourage international travel to the U.S. states and the District of Columbia. The legislation also sets a $10 fee for international travelers entering the U.S., including the territories.
“The problem with this legislation,” said Sablan, “is that the territories put money into the program, but don’t get anything in return. If international travelers visiting the CNMI are required to pay a $10 fee to fund the corporation, then the mission of the corporation should be to encourage travel to all parts of the U.S. — including the CNMI and other U.S. territories.”
