Hire More Heroes Act of 2015
Floor Speech
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Mr. RICE of South Carolina. Madam Chair, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
I certainly appreciate and respect the chairman's hard work in gathering up this bill. While I respectfully disagree with him that the bill adequately addresses tourism, I think a national committee reporting directly to the Secretary of Transportation, similar to other aspects of the travel industry, like freight, trucking, and other things, would certainly benefit the tourism industry and give a more balanced perspective.
I rise in support of this amendment. It is important for the Department of Transportation not to lose focus on the movement of people in their strategic planning of our Federal network. Congestion is at an all-time high, and new construction is at an all-time low. To best address these issues, the Department of Transportation should consult with experts in moving people efficiently: the travel and tourism industry.
Creating a national advisory committee on travel and tourism will ensure that most knowledgeable private sector stakeholders have a role in the planning of our most important corridors.
Travel and tourism supports 15 million jobs in the United States and is important to every region of the country. Establishing a forum to collaborate, strategize, and develop infrastructure that allows the industry to exist is necessary to ensuring America's competitiveness in the tourism global market.
Determining a long-term plan for anything is rare here in Washington. That is exactly what this amendment does; it determines a long-term strategic plan for the travel and tourism industry.
Madam Chair, in my district in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach welcomes over 16 million visitors annually. Tourism is the driver of our economy in the Grand Strand. We are one of the most visited destinations in the country and do not have interstate access. In fact, we are the most visited destination that does not have interstate access. If a destination attracts 16 million visitors without an interstate, imagine what areas like ours could do with one.
The national advisory committee on travel and tourism will identify, prioritize, and make recommendations to the DOT on areas in need of infrastructure advances, like Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. That is why I am a cosponsor of this important amendment.
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