HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 96-4734, by Representatives Elliot and Linville

      WHEREAS, Tourism is of vital economic and cultural importance to the states and provinces of the Pacific Northwest comprised of Washington, Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, and Oregon; and

      WHEREAS, The State and Provincial governments of the Pacific Northwest are members of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region, a nonprofit public-private partnership established to promote regional economic cooperation; and

      WHEREAS, The States and Provinces of the Pacific Northwest Region expend in excess of $50 million per year to promote the tourism industry and attract millions of tourists from throughout North America and the World; and

      WHEREAS, The tourism industry constitutes billions of dollars in economic activity for the States and Provinces of the Pacific Northwest Region; and

      WHEREAS, The States and Provinces of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region have undertaken numerous collaborative and innovative tourism initiatives that have been successful in promoting tourism in the region and have laid the ground work for ongoing cooperative tourism development efforts; and

      WHEREAS, Current proposals before Congress to establish a National Tourism Board and a National Tourism Organization to develop a national travel and tourism strategy to promote tourism in the United States is of considerable importance to the States of the Pacific Northwest; and

      WHEREAS, Participation on the National Tourism Board and the National Tourism Organization is of vital interest and importance to the States of the Pacific Northwest;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives respectfully request that a public and a private sector representative of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region be appointed to the National Tourism Board and the National Tourism Organization respectively; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted to the Honorable William J. Clinton, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the States of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

      I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

      Resolution 4734 adopted by the House of Representatives

                          March 7, 1996.

                 ________________________________

                  Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk