Cortez Masto Announces Small Business Owner from Rural Nevada as her Guest to the State of the Union

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced Liz Woolsey, owner of the Stargazer Inn & Bristlecone General Store in Baker, Nevada, as her guest to President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address. As a Nevada small businessowner who relies on tourism to Great Basin National Park, Liz has seen a downturn in visitation as a result of the Trump Administration's disastrous economic policies.

"President Trump ran on a promise that he would lower costs and bolster the American economy. Instead, in just one year, he has done just the opposite," said Senator Cortez Masto. "Tonight, he's going to tell us not to believe our own eyes about how much harder it is to make ends meet, but Nevadans like Liz know better. It's past time my Republican colleagues listen to the working families across the country and help reverse Trump's harmful economic agenda, actions, and rhetoric."

"I am honored to represent my community, county, and state to ensure that Nevada tourism opportunities in outdoor recreation, arts, culture, and history remain a vital economic industry. Businesses in Baker thrive because of tourism. Travelers from around the world stay in our lodging accommodations and eat at our restaurants while visiting Great Basin National Park. Federal budget and staffing cuts to the National Park Service and Public Lands ultimately impact our businesses. We are now experiencing a downturn in visitation, especially with international travelers, and the park is struggling to fill positions and be fully operational. At the end of the day, all of that hurts our community," said Liz Woolsey.

The tourism industry is a major driver of Nevada's economy. In 2024, tourism generated nearly $100 billion in economic activity in Nevada and produced more than 436,000 jobs. Under the Trump Administration, however, the travel industry has taken a major hit. Visitation to Las Vegas fell 7.5 percent in 2025, the lowest visitation since 2021. President Trump's catastrophic economic policies - from his blanket tariffs to his divisive rhetoric about America's allies and his cruel immigration policies - have made it an incredibly difficult year for Nevada workers and small business owners like Liz - from the Strip to rural Nevada. In addition, cuts, fee increases, and eliminating staff on our public lands - like Great Basin National Park - lead to longer term impacts on visitation to Nevada's wonderful open spaces that support communities and workers across the state.

Senator Cortez Masto is a fierce advocate for Nevada's tourism economy. Throughout 2025, the Senator demanded the Trump Administration reverse their policies and make constructive plans for strengthening travel and tourism. She hosted a press conference with the Culinary Union to call out Trump Administration policies that are slowing tourism. Cortez Masto also supported legislation to reverse funding cuts to the effective Brand USA travel promotion public-private partnership program. She has been focused on impacts to our national parks by standing up for traditional fee-free days, as well as pushing back on efforts to increase the fees on international travelers. Earlier this month, Senator Cortez Masto pushed Scott Bessent to acknowledge the impacts of this Administration on Nevada's tourism industry and introduced the USMCA Travel and Tourism Resiliency Act to ensure that the United States is working with Canada and Mexico, America's two largest trading partners, to support our travel and tourism industry.

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