“The World Will Be Watching”: Chairman Gimenez Opens Hearing on US Travel System Security Ahead of High-Profile International Events

WASHINGTON D.C. --Today, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security Chairman Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) delivered the following opening statementin a hearing to examine public and private sector efforts to secure and improve the U.S. travel system ahead of high-profile international events, such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Watch Chairman Gimenez's full opening statement in a hearing entitled, "America on the Global Stage: Examining Efforts to Secure and Improve the U.S. Travel System and Prepare for Significant International Events."

As prepared for delivery:

Good morning. I want to thank everyone for being here today, especially our witnesses, as we take a closer look at how the United States is preparing to welcome the world over the next few years for significant international events.

Beginning this summer, the United States will step onto the global stage by hosting the FIFA Club World Cup. This tournament will feature elite professional clubs from around the world, such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Inter Miami FC, and will take place at select venues throughout the United States. This event will provide an early opportunity to stress-test our travel systems, infrastructure, and security coordination ahead of even larger events on the horizon.

In 2026, our country will host the FIFA World Cup with matches played by national teams in cities across the nation, and I am thrilled that this includes my home city of Miami. At the same time, we will celebrate America's 250th anniversary in July 2026, followed by the Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Los Angeles in 2028.

When I was Mayor of Miami-Dade County I witnessed first-hand just how much planning and hard work goes into ensuring these major events run smoothly. As a member of Congress, I intend to do all I can to make sure these international events are safe for the millions of Americans and those traveling here who are planning on attending.

These events are more than just celebrations or competitions. They are major opportunities to show the world what America stands for and what we can achieve.

If we get this right, the payoff could be enormous. According to the U.S. Travel Association, we could generate nearly 95 billion dollars in economic activity and welcome over forty million international visitors. But that will only happen if we plan ahead, invest wisely, and make sure the travel experience in the U.S. is smooth, modern, and secure.

Right now, we have work to do. A recent report from the U.S. Travel Association made it clear that while the United States remains one of the top destinations for international travelers, we now rank last among the top travel destinations when it comes to national planning and leadership. Long waits for visas, outdated airport technology, and staffing shortages at our ports of entry are slowing us down. These problems are not just frustrating, they could cost us jobs, investment, and global influence.

That is why I support President Trump's recent Executive Order creating a White House Task Force focused on the 2026 World Cup. This kind of coordination is exactly what we need. It brings the right people to the table and sends a strong message that the United States is serious about being ready.

I'm currently working on a bill that would take this a step further by creating a federal task force to focus on all major international events occurring in the U.S. over the next four years. That includes the World Cup, America's 250th, and the 2028 Olympics. We need to make sure every agency involved is working together and that our policies and resources are aligned.

We also need to think about security. Big crowds and high-profile venues make these events a target. That includes threats from drones, which are becoming more common around stadiums and public gatherings. We need to make sure agencies like DHS, TSA, and state and local law enforcement have the tools and coordination they need to stop these threats in the planning stage, long before they can cause harm.

We should take this opportunity to make long-needed reforms to our travel system. We need to make the system more thorough and effective, while still being welcoming to legitimate travelers. That means better technology at airports, shorter visa wait times and making sure we have enough officers at our ports of entry.

The world will be watching. And with the right vision and coordination, the United States can set the global standard-not just for security, but for innovation, hospitality, and safety. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses about how we turn that vision into reality.

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