WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) sent a letter urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to suspend implementation of the proposed Visa Bond Pilot Program, which will impose a substantial fee on international visitors seeking to obtain a business visitor or tourist visa to the United States. This program could further harm the tourism industry in Nevada, which is already struggling as a result of President Trump’s chaotic trade and immigration policies.
“Las Vegas has already experienced more than a seven percent decrease in tourism through June of 2025 compared to the first six months of the previous year, and the Visa Bond Pilot Program will only further deter visitors,” wrote Senator Rosen. “This restriction will not only reduce the volume of inbound visitors, but will also disrupt the steady flow of tourism-related revenue that supports countless American-owned small businesses, hotels, restaurants, and attractions.”
“With major global events on the horizon, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics, states need to maximize tourism opportunities, not restrict them,” continued Senator Rosen. “In light of these concerns, I request that the Department of State suspend implementation of the Visa Bond Pilot Program.”
The full letter can be found HERE.
Senator Rosen has been a leader in working to support Nevada’s travel and tourism industry. As the former chair of the Senate subcommittee overseeing tourism, she worked across party lines to support this critical industry, including via her landmark Omnibus Travel and Tourism Act, which was signed into law at the end of 2022. As a lead author of the airports section of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Senator Rosen helped create the Airport Terminal Program to provide funding to help airports expand and rebuild their terminals to improve the traveler experience. She has also been outspoken about the harm that Trump’s reckless tariffs will have on tourism in Nevada. She brought $3 billion in funding to Nevada for the historic Brightline West high-speed rail project that will serve Las Vegas and Southern California, increasing the number of visitors coming into the state.
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