Pallone: America's Tourism Industry is Suffering Under the Trump Administration's Cruel Policies
Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) delivered the following opening remarks at a Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Subcommittee hearing on "Daylight and Destinations: Examining Time, Travel, and Tourism:”
Today, we’re discussing travel, tourism and time. As Americans, we’re extremely fortunate to have such a large and diverse nation to explore. From our beautiful national parks and historic sites to world-famous theme parks and concert and sports venues, the United States provides a travel experience with something for everyone to enjoy. Tourism contributes trillions of dollars to our economy every year, creates jobs, and supports local businesses.
In my district along the Jersey Shore, tourists can enjoy beautiful coastal areas with serene beaches, embark on fishing ventures along the Atlantic coast, explore the music scene at iconic venues like The Stone Pony, and so much more. Last year alone, New Jersey welcomed more than 120 million visitors to our state, and they contributed more than $50 billion to our state’s economy.
People around the world also recognize the top tier travel experience America has to offer. Over the next decade, the United States will host many major world events including two Olympic and Paralympic Games and the FIFA World Cup. I am proud to say that New Jersey will host multiple matches including the final game of the World Cup next summer. Major world events present an opportunity for growth in the tourism sector that will bolster our economy, create jobs, and allow us to showcase all that America has to offer. We must ensure that cities across the country are able to reap the full benefits of these major events.
Unfortunately, the tourism industry is suffering. The Trump Administration’s hostile trade policies and harsh immigration actions have caused numerous countries, including Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom, to issue travel warnings to their citizens looking to visit the United States. High visa fees, stories of legal tourists being wrongfully detained at the border and treated cruelly by immigration agents, and strained diplomatic relationships discourage travelers from visiting our country because they simply do not feel welcome.
And we are already feeling the economic impacts. The International Trade Administration reported that travel spending is down almost three percent from this time last year. If these trends continue, our economy could lose billions of dollars this year. We must ensure that travelers feel safe and welcome in the United States. We can’t afford not to.
For American families, rising costs on everyday essentials are forcing them to rethink travel plans. Republican policies are driving up prices for Americans on everything from groceries, to health care premiums, to their monthly power bills. And as budgets get tighter many Americans are cutting back on travel. Studies have shown that more than half of Americans are traveling less because of economic concerns.
The United States has much to offer tourists, and our economy, jobs, and small businesses have much to gain from a thriving tourism industry. We must reverse course to encourage travel – both domestic and international – and ensure that international travelers choose the United States as a travel destination and that American families can afford to see this incredible nation from coast to coast.
Today we will also discuss daylight saving time. Changing our clocks twice a year disturbs our natural sleep cycles, impacts productivity, and has been shown to be harmful to our health. Unfortunately, we have not been able to come to any consensus in the past on the best solution. Everyone has an opinion, particularly around the days that we either spring forward or fall back, but finding consensus has been difficult. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses on this today.
And I yield back the balance of my time.
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