Hire more Heroes Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Ms. TITUS. Madam Chair, I thank my colleague for yielding.
I rise in support of the Brown-Titus-Rice amendment to establish a
national travel infrastructure strategy and advisory committee, and I
urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

I represent the heart of the Las Vegas Valley, where more than 42
million travelers board planes, buses, and cars to come and enjoy some
holiday time and bask in the sun and the bright lights of the Las Vegas
Strip. Others come to attend some of the largest professional and
business meetings in the country.

Like so many places, our economy is built on the hospitality
industry, and its success depends on a strong transportation network to
bring and move those millions of visitors around, as well as the
freight needed to serve those visitors. That is why I was proud to work
with my colleague from Florida (Mr. Webster) on an amendment just
referenced to ensure that State and local planning processes would
consider the needs of the traveler as part of the long-term planning
process. This amendment was approved by voice vote just 2 weeks ago in
the committee.

Today, we are here with a similar bipartisan amendment that ensures
that travel and tourism are part of our national policy for
transportation. Our policies are enhanced when we consult and
collaborate with leaders who rely on our transportation networks. Their
guidance and experience can ensure that our DOT decisionmakers are
aware of the changing needs and trends in travel and tourism, and can
tailor investments and strategies to meet those needs.

We often hear people in this very body rail against Washington
bureaucrats not knowing what is going on back home. This amendment
would address that. I urge your support.

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