VIDEO: In Senate Hearing, Rosen Asks Urban Chamber of Commerce President About Impact of Decreased Tourism, Rising Childcare Costs on Small Businesses

Skip to content Facebook-f Instagram Youtube Flickr Newsletter Español Newsletter Español Search For Nevadans Constituent Services Help with a Federal Agency Flag Requests Tour Requests Internships Senate Page Nominations Academy Nominations Resource Guides Veterans Resource Guide Senior Resource Guide Small Business Pocket Guide Federal Funding Grant Requests Appropriations Requests Community Project Funding FY27 NDAA Submission Requests About Jacky Biography Committees Voting Record News Press Releases In The News Videos Photos Contact Email Jacky Request a Meeting Office Locations Newsletter Signup Privacy Policy For Nevadans Constituent Services Help with a Federal Agency Flag Requests Tour Requests Internships Senate Page Nominations Academy Nominations Resource Guides Veterans Resource Guide Senior Resource Guide Small Business Pocket Guide Federal Funding Grant Requests Appropriations Requests Community Project Funding FY27 NDAA Submission Requests About Jacky Biography Committees Voting Record News Press Releases In The News Videos Photos Contact Email Jacky Request a Meeting Office Locations Newsletter Signup Privacy Policy VIDEO: In Senate Hearing, Rosen Asks Urban Chamber of Commerce President About Impact of Decreased Tourism, Rising Childcare Costs on Small Businesses June 17, 2026 Watch the Full Exchange HERE WASHINGTON, DC – Today, during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) asked CEO and President of the Urban Chamber of Commerce, Cameron “C.H.” Miller, about some of the struggles that Nevada’s small businesses and the tourism industry are facing under the Trump Administration. In the last year, visits to Las Vegas fell 7.5 percent, as Donald Trump continues to push policies that alienate international tourists, undercut business development, and make it harder for small businesses to stay afloat. Rosen also asked Miller about the importance of addressing rising costs of care in childcare deserts and the impact the current lack of access to childcare has on small businesses and entrepreneurs. Excerpts from the Exchange Below: Senator Rosen: Mr. Miller, what you describe in your testimony exactly is what I’ve been hearing from our Nevada businesses. Some of the erratic policies that are coming out of Washington really have a detrimental effect on our tourism and the cost of doing business because travel and tourism are the backbone of Nevada’s economy. Again, world-class events on the Las Vegas Strip to outdoor recreation on our public lands… Nevada’s exciting entertainment and natural beauty invites visitors from around the world. And those visitors who come to all of our attractions, they draw in small businesses who want to participate in our booming tourism economy. We are known for those large casinos, but those businesses only make up one percent of our thriving business community. Ninety-nine percent of businesses in Nevada are small businesses, this is super important to us, and really the fabric of our community and the flavors of our community I will say. Mr. Miller, you mention that visits to Las Vegas fell 7.5 percent in 2025. I am hearing that the President’s harsh treatment of our allies, particularly Canadians, we have a lot of Canadian tourists who love to visit southern Nevada – visitation dropped around 20 percent from Canada. What are you hearing from your members about how a slowdown in international tourism generally that is impacting our businesses in Nevada? Mr. Miller: Thank you for the question, Senator. There are a lot of great reasons to come to Nevada. That is why tourism is the backbone of our economy and supports so much. What happens when visitors stop coming to Las Vegas, and I mentioned this. It doesn’t just stay in the 1% of the businesses. It radiates throughout the community. What that looks like for a restaurant is one less table turned an hour. What that looks like for an employee is less tip income which then results into the barbershop or beauty salon having someone book every other week or every other month versus on their regular cadence. That has a radiating effect throughout the entire state. To every single business in every single sector that we can ultimately imagine, the decrease in visitors, international visitors, particularly those from Canada, who are the largest share of our international visitors on a regular and consistent basis, those international travelers spend more dollars and stay longer. When they are, they are spending all of their money, staying as long as they can, every business benefits from that. So when that is not happening, it becomes a decrease in the possibilities for every business owner. Senator Rosen: I think you are exactly right. What happens even in the Tulip Festival [directed to Iowa witness who testified earlier] , people come to spend there, and then your folks who benefit from that go buy other things in the community. Go out for an extra din