Las Vegas Review-Journal

By Evan McLaughlin
Stephens Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - The tourism and travel industries were given a louder voice on homeland security in the intelligence bill that passed the House on Tuesday.

The bill rewrites the job description for a special assistant in the Department of Homeland Security who handles relations with the private sector.

The official will be given added responsibility to work with travel and tourism companies, conveying their interests to policy- makers who handle border and transportation security, trade, economic development, and local and state security relations.

The job presently is held by Alfonso Martinez-Fonts Jr., a Cuban- born former banker from Texas. He reports directly to Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., authored an amendment earlier this year creating a high-level Homeland Security Department post for tourism. The House passed the amendment in October, but it was modified in the final version.

"Tourism is one of the most driving forces in the economy of our country," Porter said Tuesday. "This is the first time in the history of the country where the government has elevated the level of tourism."

Rick Webster, a lobbyist for the Travel Industry Association of America, said the bill will increase tourist confidence and help business.

"Clearly (Congress) is asking the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate with the Department of Commerce on policy that impacts tourism, and that's very positive," Webster said.

Frank Cilluffo, director of the Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University, said the private sector should have more input with the government on local security matters.

Having an industry voice at the department "is only prudent when the terrorists are coming to the conclusion that there's a way to hurt the economy," Cilluffo said. "Obviously, it makes sense to take precautionary measures."

Porter's original proposal to create a new undersecretary within Homeland Security would not have fit within the department's structure, Cilluffo said.