the world stage from all five inhabited continents. each of these five continents is represented by a single-colored ring, a ring entwined with four others to form the familiar symbol worn by every olympic athlete. mr. president, the olympic and the paralympic games are a powerful force for world unity and a boom to any city that hosts them. in 2016 the summer games will bring millions of dollars and the international spotlight to one of four world cities selected by the u.s. olympic committee from a broad field of candidate cities, chicago is one of only four finalists for the

2016 olympics along with madrid, rio day january tpher row and tokyo. the select committee will make their final selection this october. mr. president, we must work hard to bring the olympic games back to the united states. there is no greater honor than representing your country on the world stage. i'm convinced there is no greater world -- no greater city in the world than chicago. as president obama and i can both attest, chicago is a diverse and inclusive city situated on the banks of the beautiful lake michigan, it is a jewel of the midwest. chicago has always been a global leader in culture, art, architecture, commerce, sports,

and even cuisine. the olympic spirit is alive and well in chicago. the chicago 2016 olympic committee recognizes the importance of the games and renewing old friendships around the world as well as establishing new ones. this ideal and the value of a friendship through sports is at the heart of the city's olympic bid. it is a city i am proud to call home, and it showcases much of what makes this country so great. that is why it is the ideal site of the olympic and the paralympic games. the athletes, world-class training facilities and events located would be very close together, allowing for convenience and ease for visitors, outstanding public transportation and model infrastructure would make all events readily accessible and

easy to attend. for residents of the city and people across the united states, chicago would shine on the world stage, and millions of dollars would pour in from across the globe. mr. president, especially if we pass senate bill 1023 promoting travel to the united states and relaying better information to visitors, chicago will be the clear choice for the international olympic committee in october. this important legislation known as the travel promotion act of 2009 would create a not-for-profit corporation as well as a government office of travel promotions. these organizations will work together to encourage business, leisure and scholarly travel to the united states, restoring important components of our struggling economy. traveling tourism would generate

as much as $1.3 trillion in the united states every year, has been on the decline since 2001. although the same industries have grown in many other countries. we must act swiftly to protect the 8.3 million american jobs that are directly related to travel and tourism. this means welcoming more overseas visitors each year, visitors who already spend $142 billion inside the united states on an annual basis. an increase in international tourism would increase the profile of the chicago olympic bid. the 2016 olympics in turn would generate even more international tourism in illinois and across the country. bill 1023 would help this massive influx of visitors travelers to the united states with ease.

this would create jobs, increase tax revenue, and build stronger friendships across the globe. there are few international spectacles as similar and inspiring as the olympic and the paralympic games. a force for unity in a world divided, these competition have the power to bring us together as one people celebrating the human spirit with one voice. i urge my colleagues to join senator dorgan, senator enzi in supporting bill 1023. this legislation will help to bring visitors from all over the world to the united states and would also help bring the 2016 olympics to chicago, illinois, because i have a special interest in bringing those olympics to my hometown. thank you, mr. president. i yield the floor, and i suggest the absence of a quorum.

the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

quorum call: