COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
10:00 a.m.

• Press Release - Travel and Tourism Experts Voice Economic and Job Loss Concern Over Rising Gasoline Prices (3/27/2012)

OVERSIGHT HEARING ON:

• "Harnessing American Resources to Create Jobs and Address Rising Gasoline Prices: Family Vacations and U.S. Tourism Industry"

OPENING STATEMENT:

The Honorable Doc Hastings
Chairman

WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:

Panel I

Sam Gilliland
Chairman and CEO, Sabre Holdings
Member, Energy Security Leadership Council
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Victor S. Parra
President & CEO, United Motorcoach Association
Member, National Tour Association
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Mark H. Brown
Exec. V.P., Assoc. & Club Services
AAA
(Truth in Testimony Form)

Daniel J. Weiss
Senior Fellow and Director of Climate Strategy
Center for American Progress
(Truth in Testimony Form)

BACKGROUND:

American families are being forced to make difficult budgetary decisions—putting off vacations and travel that will have a ripple effect throughout the economy. According to a study, in 2010 travel and tourism supported 1.2 million jobs and generated a U.S. trade surplus of $32 billion. This hearing will focus on “Harnessing American Resources to Create Jobs and Address Rising Gasoline Prices: Family Vacations and U.S. Tourism Industry.” The Obama Administration has repeatedly blocked access to our own American energy resources – costing American jobs and leading to higher gasoline prices. Since President Obama took office, the average price of gasoline has more than doubled and has reached a record high for March.