National Treasure Promotion and Investment Act of 2012

National Treasure Promotion and Investment Act of 2012 - Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the maintenance of infrastructure in communities hosting national parks and national heritage areas is important to the safety of residents and visitors; and (2) visa issuance fees should be invested in such maintenance in these communities, which draw visitors from across the globe.

Requires consular officers, in issuing visas to applicants seeking to visit the United States temporarily for pleasure, to give priority to those intending to visit a national heritage area or national park.

Directs the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to support infrastructure projects: (1) in communities hosting such heritage areas or parks, (2) that have been prioritized for completion by an applicable metropolitan planning organization, and (3) that are determined beneficial to the upkeep of roads or bridges used by international visitors to these regions.

[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6130 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6130

 To require priority visa processing for visitors to National Heritage 
    Areas or National Parks, to invest in communities hosting these 
              national treasures, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 13, 2012

  Ms. Hochul introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
    Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on 
  Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require priority visa processing for visitors to National Heritage 
    Areas or National Parks, to invest in communities hosting these 
              national treasures, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Treasure Promotion and 
Investment Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) The United States is blessed with natural and historic 
        treasures, including 58 National Parks and 49 National Heritage 
        Areas.
            (2) The liberty, beauty, and history of the United States 
        draw visitors from every corner of the world.
            (3) Over 62 million international travelers visited the 
        United States in 2011.
            (4) The average overseas traveler spends approximately 
        $4,300 during his or her stay in the United States.
            (5) Wait times for travel visas can exceed 100 days and 
        deter tourists from visiting the United States, supporting its 
        economy, and learning about its culture and heritage.
            (6) The Department of State collects visa issuance fees 
        from nonimmigrant visa applicants from countries that levy 
        excessive visa fees on United States citizens.
            (7) Visa issuance fees generated over $28 million in 
        revenue in 2011 and are not required to cover Department of 
        State expenses.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the maintenance of infrastructure in communities 
        hosting National Parks and National Heritage Areas is important 
        to the safety of residents and visitors to such communities; 
        and
            (2) visa issuance fees should be invested in the 
        maintenance of such infrastructure in such communities, which 
        draw visitors from across the globe.

SEC. 3. PRIORITIZATION OF CERTAIN VISAS.

    In issuing visas under section 101(a)(15)(B) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(B)) to applicants seeking to 
visit the United States temporarily for pleasure, a consular officer 
(as defined in section 101(a)(9) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(9))) 
shall give priority to applicants intending to visit a National 
Heritage Area or National Park.

SEC. 4. TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN COMMUNITIES HOSTING NATIONAL 
              TREASURES.

    (a) Transportation Infrastructure Grants.--The Secretary of 
Transportation shall make grants to support infrastructure projects--
            (1) in communities hosting National Heritage Areas or 
        National Parks;
            (2) that have been prioritized for completion by an 
        applicable metropolitan planning organization (as defined in 
        section 134(b) of title 23, United States Code); and
            (3) that are determined beneficial to the upkeep of roads 
        or bridges utilized by international visitors drawn to these 
        regions.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out subsection (a) for a fiscal year the total 
amount of all nonimmigrant visa issuance fees collected by the 
Secretary of State during the prior fiscal year.
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