United States National Tourism Organization Act of 1996
Public Law 104-288 · H.R. 2579 · 104th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Oct 11, 1996 · Commerce
Sponsor: Rep. Toby Roth (R-WI-8)
Cosponsors (264): Rep. Ike Skelton, Rep. Robert Clement,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
United States National Tourism Organization Act of 1996 - Establishes the United States National Tourism Organization as a private not-for-profit organization to represent and promote United States international travel and tourism. Prohibits the Organization from engaging in any activities to promote a political party or candidacy of a person seeking or holding political office.
Establishes the United States National Tourism Organization Board to govern and supervise the Organization's activities.
Directs the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of State, the U.S. Trade Representative, the Director of the U.S. Information Agency, and the Trade and Development Agency to cooperate with the Organization and give priority consideration to its recommendations. Requires specified Federal officials to report biennially to specified congressional committees on any travel and tourism activities carried out in conjunction with the U.S. Government.
Terminates the Organization within two years after enactment of this Act if the Board has not developed and implemented a comprehensive plan for its long-term financing.
Amends the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 to require the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee's Federal trade promotion plan to reflect, among other things, Organization recommendations.
Amends the International Travel Act of 1961 to: (1) terminate the United States Travel and Tourism Administration; and (2) revise the international travel and tourism promotion duties of the Secretary of Commerce. Eliminates export promotion services from such duties. Limits the scope of the Secretary's currently mandated comprehensive performance plan to critical tourism functions not being carried out by the Organization or other private sector entities or State governments.
Revises the composition and administrative duties of the Tourism Policy Council.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Foreign Affairs Committee · House · discharged from, referred toSubcommittee: International Economic Policy and Trade Subcommittee- Energy and Commerce Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Commerce, Trade, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 19 actions.
- Oct 11, 1996Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 104-288.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Oct 2, 1996PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Sep 28, 1996FloorFloor · Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- Sep 26, 1996FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Oxley moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Sep 25, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Foreign Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Jul 24, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- May 7, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Commerce, Trade, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Commerce, Trade, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Jan 24, 1996CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by International Economic Policy and Trade Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Commerce, Trade, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Nov 7, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to International Economic Policy and Trade Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
- Nov 6, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Commerce, Trade, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Nov 2, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Foreign Affairs Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.