Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience Act

Floor Speech

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Like many other communities around the country, tribes and tribal organizations are looking for ways to attract the business of overseas tourists; and there is a significant opportunity for tribes and Native people to share and reinforce their cultures, generate income, create jobs, and improve their quality of life through increased tourism.

According to the Department of Commerce, as my colleague alluded to earlier, tourism was almost a quarter-of-a-trillion-dollar industry in 2014, with almost 34 million overseas travelers visiting the United States. And overseas travelers to the United States who visit national parks or tribal lands tend to stay longer in the United States, visit more destinations within the country, and are more likely to be repeat visitors.

However, there are currently no tourism initiatives at the Federal level that include tribes and tribal organizations. The NATIVE Act would remedy that situation by encouraging Federal programs that support tourism and tourism infrastructure to engage with our Native American communities. This will increase tribal opportunity to showcase the rich and diverse history of the indigenous peoples of the United States.

I commend Senator Schatz of Hawaii for this legislation. I ask my colleagues to support S. 1579.

Having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

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