Porter-led provision to ensure tourism interests represented

Benjamin Grove

Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004 | 9:53 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., who this year fought for legislation aimed at making the Department of Homeland Security more sympathetic to the tourism industry, won a partial victory Tuesday.

Porter had prodded his fellow lawmakers to approve a new high-profile post -- a department undersecretary for tourism issues who answers directly to the department secretary. He said the industry needed someone dedicated to advocating the industry who was "at the table" when decisions were made that affect tourism-dependent cities.

Those decisions -- about airports, for example -- can cost the industry and local governments money and add burdens, Porter said.

Porter wanted his legislation included in a massive bill aimed at reorganizing the bureaucracy of U.S. intelligence gathering. The House approved the bill after some controversy in a final-hour effort in on Tuesday, with the support of Nevada's three House lawmakers.

Porter didn't get the undersecretary. But tucked inside the bill was a provision to add duties to one of the department's existing positions: special assistant to the private sector. The legislation gives that person explicit responsibilities to represent the interests of the travel industry.

Porter said that the bill language "may well be all we need" and that the new undersecretary may not be necessary.

The legislation expands the special assistant's duties to include consultation with local governments and tourism industry officials and communication of their needs to department officials, Porter said.

The special assistant also would act as a liaison between the department officials who handle transportation security issues and the Commerce Department officials who deal with tourism, according to the bill language.

Porter said federal officials will now be more sensitive and responsive regarding security provisions for high-profile events, such as the New Year's Eve celebration in Las Vegas or Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

The overall intelligence bill has been deadlocked in Congress for a month as House Republicans debated whether it interfered with the Pentagon's access to vital spy satellite data. They also argued over whether the legislation should contain stricter immigration measures aimed at would-be terrorists.

Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., ultimately supported the bill, disappointed that some immigration provisions were stripped from the final version. Gibbons, a member of the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees, vowed to help lead efforts to pass new immigration laws next year, including a measure that bans states from issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.

"We can not forget that the 19 terrorists on Sept. 11 had 63 valid driver's licenses between them," Gibbons said. "It is obvious our immigration and documentation laws need to be overhauled and strengthened."

The Senate was expected to approve the bill, including the tourism provision, today. Sens. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and John Ensign, R-Nev., support the bill.