Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), Chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, hosted the Committee on Homeland Security for a field hearing at Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport to examine the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) efforts to improve processing for international visitors. Witnesses provided updates on DHS initiatives to streamline safe traveling processes, bolster workforce hiring and retention, and protect employees and the traveling public from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“As we bounce back from the economic downturn of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that we ensure no tourist or visitor is discouraged from traveling to our country because of processing delays or long wait times,” said Rep. Titus. “Despite low travel rates due to the pandemic, air travel is making a significant comeback, particularly as we approach the summer months. As these numbers spike, we must continue to support our travel industry so that tourists leave our city with positive travel experiences, a sense of trust in our security processing, and a desire to come visit again.”

“I want to thank Congresswoman Titus for hosting the Committee in Las Vegas to examine how the Department of Homeland Security can improve visitor processing,” said Chairman Thompson. “Congresswoman Titus is a leader in Congress on this issue and a champion for Las Vegas tourism because she knows how critical it is to this community and its economy.”

Background

This hearing gave Members the opportunity to see firsthand how Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) process outgoing and incoming international travelers at airports. Given the gradual increase in travelers and tourists to near pre-pandemic levels, travel authorities continue to enhance safety measures, leverage advanced technology, and streamline information sharing to process travelers expeditiously and safely.

As TSA and CBP continue to deploy advanced biometric technologies, the agencies must ensure that their data, networks, and equipment are secure and protected from cyberattacks or data breaches. Additionally, it is essential that these processing agencies implement advanced technologies with strong privacy considerations to protect travelers and their personal data.

In addition to workforce challenges, including diversification, TSA and CPB must shore up additional resources and infrastructure to accommodate these increased travel demands, which are expected to spike this summer. Moreover, CBP must address the backlog of Trusted Traveler Program applicants in order to encourage international visitors to travel to Las Vegas and other major cities across the U.S. and promote economic recovery.

Watch a recording of the field hearing here.

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