HR 3241 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

1st SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

H. R. 3241CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To require operators of Internet websites that provide access to international travel services and market overseas vacation destinations to provide on such websites information to consumers regarding the potential health and safety risks associated with traveling to such vacation destinations, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

October 24, 2011CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. KINZINGER of Illinois (for himself and Mr. LIPINSKI) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, 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 concernedCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To require operators of Internet websites that provide access to international travel services and market overseas vacation destinations to provide on such websites information to consumers regarding the potential health and safety risks associated with traveling to such vacation destinations, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘International Travelers Bill of Rights Act of 2011’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) COMMISSION- The term ‘Commission’ means the Federal Trade Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) COVERED WEBSITE OPERATOR- The term ‘covered website operator’ means an individual or entity that operates an Internet website that provides access to international travel services. Such term includes an overseas vacation destination or a third party that operates an Internet website that offers international travel services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL SERVICES- The term ‘international travel services’ means a service that a consumer can use to reserve lodging at an overseas vacation destination.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) OVERSEAS VACATION DESTINATION- The term ‘overseas vacation destination’ means a resort, hotel, retreat, hostel, or any other similar lodging located outside the United States.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) UNITED STATES- The term ‘United States’ means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. PROVIDING INFORMATION REGARDING THE POTENTIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OVERSEAS VACATION DESTINATIONS.

(a) In General- A covered website operator shall provide to consumers information on the Internet website of the covered website operator, in a manner the website operator considers appropriate, regarding the potential health and safety risks associated with overseas vacation destinations marketed on such website, if any, including the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Information compiled by the Department of State, including Department of State country-specific travel warnings and alerts.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Information regarding the onsite health and safety services that are available to consumers at each overseas vacation destination, including whether the destination--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) employs or contracts with a physician or nurse on the premises to provide medical treatment for guests;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) employs or contracts with personnel, other than a physician, nurse, or lifeguard, on the premises who are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) has an automated external defibrillator and employs or contracts with 1 or more individuals on the premises trained in its use; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) employs or contracts with 1 or more lifeguards on the premises trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if the overseas vacation destination has swimming pools or other water-based activities on its premises, or in areas under its control for use by guests.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Services Not Available 24 Hours a Day- If the onsite health and safety services described in subsection (a)(2) are not available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, a covered website operator who provides information about such services under subsection (a) shall display the hours and days of availability on its Internet website in a manner the covered website operator considers appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Minimum Requirement for Obtaining Information- If a covered website operator does not possess, with respect to an overseas vacation destination, information about the onsite health and safety services required to be displayed on its Internet website under subsection (a), the covered website operator shall, at a minimum, request such information from such destination.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Information Not Available- If onsite health and safety services described in subsection (a)(2) are not available at an overseas vacation destination, or if a covered website operator does not possess information about the onsite health and safety services required to be displayed on its Internet website under subsection (a), the covered website operator shall display on the Internet website of the website operator, in a manner the website operator considers appropriate, the following: ‘This destination does not provide certain health and safety services, or information regarding such services is not available.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Immunity- A covered website provider shall not be liable in a civil action in a Federal or State court relating to inaccurate or incomplete information published under subsection (a) regarding an overseas vacation destination that is not owned or operated by the covered website provider if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) such information was provided by the overseas vacation destination; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the covered website provider published such information without knowledge that such information was inaccurate or incomplete, as the case may be.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT BY FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION.

(a) Unfair or Deceptive Acts of Practices- A violation of this Act shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Powers of Commission- The Commission shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Deadline for Issuance of Regulations- The Commission shall prescribe regulations to carry out this Act not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. DEPARTMENT OF STATE RECORDS OF OVERSEAS DEATHS OF UNITED STATES CITIZENS FROM NONNATURAL CAUSES.

(a) Increased Granularity of Data Collected- Subsection (a) of section 57 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2729) is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) The location of where the death occurred, including the address of the location, the name of the property where the death occurred, and the state or province and municipality of such location, if available.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Increased Frequency of Publication- Subsection (c) of such section is amended by striking ‘at least every six months’ and inserting ‘not less frequently than once each month’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Monthly Reports to Congress- Such section is amended by adding at the end the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(d) Reports to Congress- Each time the Secretary updates the information made available under subsection (c), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report containing such information.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink