Senate Proceeding 09-09-09 on Sep 9th, 2009 :: 0:22:30 to 0:24:35
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0:22:23 to 0:22:44( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: quorum call: a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: we are in a quorum call. a senator: mr. preside the be succeed. the presiding officer: without objection, and the senator from florida is recognized. mr. martinez: i just really feel for all the kind comments on the floor latest by the republican leader, but i wanted to just take a moment to speech about the matter we'll be voting on this

0:22:30 to 0:24:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Mel Martinez

0:22:45 to 0:23:05( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: afternoon, maybe my last vote, and one in which is an issue i've been working on since he was mayor of orange county, florida -- since i was mayor of orange county, florida, a tourism travel promotion bill. nor florida is a global tourist destination, as we all know, and tourism in florida has suffered, as so many other sectors of our

0:23:06 to 0:23:28( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: economy have, including a 10% drop in the first quarter of 2009 on travelers to florida. florida continues to have a 10.7% unemployment and tourism bookings at place like walt disn world are down over 7% from last year. all of which suggest that in order for us to move beyond this recessionary period and the

0:23:29 to 0:23:50( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: 10.7% unemployment we see in florida, that it reallys incumbent upon to us do two things. number one is quick blacklisting destinations like florida, like orlando, like miami, like las vegas by the government and others, it ought to be okay to travel to these great destinations. but the second would be to move and pass this travel tourism

0:23:51 to 0:24:11( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: bill which i think is a trade promotion act which would establish an independent nonprofit corporation for u.s. travel promotion governed by an 11-member board of individuals appointed by the secretary of commerce. it would be funded not by taxpayers but instead through the user fees paid by foreign tour expises in-kind contributions from corporate partners. it is something that is badly

0:24:12 to 0:24:33( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: need. tourism is a huge source of revenue to states like florida and like the leader's state of nevada and it is something that i think would -- is long overdue. so passing this bill today will be a great day. it will be a great accomplishment for our nation and it will be a trendous boon to a tourism economy that is reeling in times t. will make me awfully happy that this will be

0:24:34 to 0:24:36( Edit History Discussion )

Mel Martinez: something that i can sort of