Visit America Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6965, the Visit America Act.

U.S. travel and tourism is one of our country's core industries. Pre- COVID, it generated some $2.6 trillion in annual economic output, was one of our largest export and service industries, and supported fully 1 in 10 U.S. jobs. In many States, my own Hawaii being a prime example, it is our leading industry.

But COVID taught us in spades how fragile this economic and jobs generator can be. Very frankly, it has never earned full respect in terms of Federal Government attention, focus, and support, given its prominence.

U.S. travel and tourism needs and deserves far more. This bill, in which I am joined by the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus), the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), our House Travel and Tourism Caucus, and other colleagues, in addition to all aspects of the industry, is a necessary start on a new chapter through a coordinated, high-level Federal effort, including a 10-year travel and tourism strategy and finally, finally, like other countries, an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge its passage.

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