Border requirements change again?

NEWS RELEASE

CONGRESSMAN BART STUPAK

1ST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN

************************* Stupak statement on Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative implementation schedule

WASHINGTON - (June 20) - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Wednesday that they intend to fully implement the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) by the summer of 2008.

Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) issued the following statement:

"The new air travel passport requirements have already significantly delayed travelers in my district and my office has been bombarded with calls from constituents encountering passport difficulties."

"Today's announcement regarding land travel flaunts congressional intent."

"Last year, Congress passed legislation that included a number of stringent requirements that must be met before WHTI is implemented."

"The legislation Congress passed and the president signed extended the WHTI deadlines until June 1, 2009, at the latest, ensured that the technology for any passport card meets certain security standards and requires that the National Institutes of Standards and Technology certify the technology chosen by DHS and the Department of State."

"Congress also required that the technology to be used for the passport card been shared with the governments of Canada and Mexico."

"Further, just last week, on the DHS appropriations bill, the House overwhelmingly approved an amendment to prohibit DHS from implementing WHTI until June 2009."

"The House bill also fenced off $100 million in funds due to lack of progress and reporting by the agency, basically telling the administration it will not be implementing WHTI until it can demonstrate that it will do so in a way that does not negatively affect cross-border travel and commerce."

"Congress has made clear our concerns about WHTI, yet the administration plods forward."

"Commerce and trade between Canada and the United States supports over 170,000 Michigan jobs, so it is imperative that the new passport requirements not disrupt cross border travel and trade between our two countries."

"I am not at all convinced that the Departments of Homeland Security and State can properly implement WHTI."

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