March 24, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3805 made in the Energy and Commerce THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAVEL IN that the things that supply the equip- Committee. He said that his intent was OUR COUNTRY ment, the buildings, all the support to bring his tobacco bill to the floor The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. services come from 50 States. Every under suspension. I appealed to my FUDGE). Under the Speaker’s an- State is impacted by a strong tourism good friend not to do that. Allow Con- nounced policy of January 6, 2009, the trade. And it is just very exciting to be gress to work its will, just as you did gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. BERK- part and to live in a community where at the committee. LEY) is recognized for 60 minutes. we have tourism as such an active part. When this bill came before the com- Being from South Florida, we not GENERAL LEAVE mittee, it was all Republicans voted for only draw people from all over the it and all Democrats voted against it. I Ms. BERKLEY. I ask unanimous con- United States to Florida, but we get was surprised by that. I was surprised sent that all Members may have 5 leg- people from all over the world, as you islative days in which to revise and ex- by that because we, Mr. MCINTYRE and do as well. And I know just from the I, looked at this from a bipartisan per- tend their remarks and include extra- Latin American community, the Euro- spective, and we were seeking to im- neous material on the Special Order of pean community, Asian community, prove public health. And when you try business travel. they come to our beaches, they come to work to improve public health from The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there to our attractions, our wonderful ho- this perspective this isn’t one of these objection to the request of the gentle- tels, the great quality of life, the diver- fights about socializing medicine or woman from Nevada? sity of our culture, the diversity of the something that defines political par- There was no objection. people in Florida, incredible res- ties. This one really surprised me that Ms. BERKLEY. A few weeks ago, taurants to choose from. But, you within the committee, that there was a Madam Speaker, I came to the floor of know, obviously, in struggling times partisan vote. That should have never, the House and gave a very spirited de- we know it affects everybody. It affects ever have happened at the committee. fense of my congressional district the discretionary dollar. And what I am hopeful here is that which encompasses my hometown of But I think one thing we do want to Mr. WAXMAN, when he makes his appeal Las Vegas. I did that because my com- encourage, and certainly with the eco- to the Speaker for his legislation to munity was under horrific attack by nomic stimulus package that has now come to the floor, that he actually goes Members of this body, and it did us tre- been presented, we are now beginning through regular order, that he goes to mendous financial damage. to work through some of these difficult the Rules Committee, and that Mr. I wanted to speak more than 5 min- issues with the banks and the credit MCINTYRE and I be permitted to have utes to talk about the importance of which have a lot to do with supporting our bipartisan substitute be debated travel in this country, the importance our economy throughout the United here on the House floor. to our economy, and why we should be States. This is going to take a little bit And please, do not bring—this is too encouraging people to travel, and why of time. important of a public health position we should be encouraging businesses to 1830 to come up on suspension. This is a bi- continue to conduct their meetings in b partisan bill. And to bring it up on sus- destination areas like Las Vegas, but But I think everyone should have pension denies the rights of a lot of there are so many others. And I would that confidence level to know that, as Members for this public, harm reduc- like to talk to you a little bit about Americans, we are going to get through tion strategy in which we seek to im- my community. But before I do that, I this. The goal is to contract what is prove public health. think I would like to yield to my very going on right now. So, if, in fact, if Mr. WAXMAN brings good friend, RON KLEIN from the great The reality is, at the same time, peo- his tobacco bill to the floor, my appeal State of Florida, who also depends on ple still need to get out; they still need would be to all Members to vote tourism as its lifeblood in its economy. to do business, and certainly, as we against the suspension. Now, the pur- Mr. KLEIN of Florida. I would like to know, even as unemployment has pose of voting against the suspension thank the gentlewoman from Nevada moved up a little bit, we still have over isn’t necessarily on the substance of for calling us together tonight because 90 percent of Americans who are gain- the bill itself. It is about the process. I think, as we realize, all over the fully employed. There are wonderful We have got the process and procedure United States, tourism, the flow of peo- opportunities to travel to our great and you have substance. To bring a bill ple, the flow of goods that go with the places all over the United States, to this important on public health under people, the fact that people come from spend a few dollars, to stay in a won- suspension and denying the right of a all over the world to our great, wonder- derful place, to have family time, busi- substitute, now we have a process ful attractions, whether they be in Las ness time, to eat a good meal, and it is issue. And Mr. MCINTYRE and I will be Vegas, or whether they be in Florida, just all very exciting because we do appealing to Members to vote ‘‘no’’ on where I am from. I am from the south- have this great infrastructure and this suspension. We shouldn’t be suspending east coast of Florida, Miami, Ft. Lau- great entertainment system in place, the rules and denying amendments and derdale, West Palm Beach, all over but it is the lifeblood, in many ways, of the substitute here on this floor. The Florida and I know that all over the our country’s economy. Congress should work the will of the United States there are some just un- I just want to thank you for not only American people, and that is, that all believable places to go. And the good being a leader in understanding tour- views and opinions and amendments news is there are actually some good ism, but also, in the recovery and rein- and substitutes should be made in buys right now. vestment bill that we did, there is so order here. And what this has really But besides that, the more important much in there which is going to help been done now it is narrowed down to part though is that tourism is a very, support getting our economy moving two positions. very important part of our economy. It again and in building that confidence And since Mr. WAXMAN will not in- is important on so many levels. Eco- to know that people should travel and corporate this, the least we can do is nomically, let’s just start with the should enjoy the tourism industry—our have this issue heard here on the floor. jobs. I know that you feel so strongly hotels, our properties and just get a And that is my appeal. about, Congresswoman BERKLEY, the great benefit out of it. So I would like So let me conclude with this. Mr. jobs that are created in the hospitality to thank you for calling us together. I WAXMAN, I appeal to my good friend, industry, the construction jobs that go am glad to support this great initiative allow this to come to the floor. Do not along with it, all the ancillary services that you have put out there. put your bill on suspension. If your bill and support and the food and the, all Ms. BERKLEY. Well, I really appre- comes to the floor on suspension, then the entertainment and equipment and ciate your being here. I knew, as the Mr. MCINTYRE and I are asking for all things like that. They are very much a Representative from south Florida, Members to vote against the suspen- part of our economy all over the that your economy has probably been sion and for the clear purpose that our United States. hit the same way that Las Vegas has. right to be heard. Certainly it is not just where the Could I ask you a question? I will yield back. people actually travel to. It is the fact Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Absolutely. VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:13 May 02, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H24MR9.REC H24MR9 mmaher on PROD1PC76 with CONG-REC-ONLINE H3806 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 24, 2009 Ms. BERKLEY. What we have found There are so many wonderful hotels.