BTA Advocate Alert

WHTI Implementation Date Extended until June 1, 2009.

July 17, 2006 -- Last night, the U.S. Senate passed the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill with a vote of 100-0. Of interest, the Western Hemispheric Travel Initiative implementation date was extended until June 1, 2009. The language stated that the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of State must certify to Congress that the following requirements have been meet.

1. Ensure that the technology for any Passport Card meets certain security standards – and that DHS and State agree on that technology.

2. Share the technology with the governments of Canada and Mexico.

3. Justify the fee set for the Passport Card.

4. Develop an alternative procedure for groups of children traveling across the border under adult supervision with parental consent.

5. Install all necessary technological infrastructure at the ports of entry to process the cards and train U.S. agents at the border crossings in all aspects of the new technology.

6. Make the Passport Card available for international land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean and Bermuda.

7. Establish a unified implementation date for all sea and land borders.

Neither the Domenici nor the Coleman amendment, which the BTA advocated for for inclusion in the DHS Appropriations bill, made the final version. However, we will continue to advocate for the positions, and work closely with our U.S. Senators along both international borders.

Also yesterday, the Senate rejected amendments that would have added funding for a fence on the southern border, changed DHS grant formulas, and funded more immigration officers. Ultimately, adding these amendments would have called for an across-the-board cut of other programs within the bill. The Senate is insistent that its amendments stay in through the Conference committee with the House; they are telling the House to not alter their additions.

To show that they are serious about their amendments, the Senate has appointed their conferees: Gregg, Cochran, Stevens, Specter, Domenici, Shelby, Craig, Bennett, Allard, Byrd, Inouye, Leahy, Mikulski, Kohl, Murray, Reid, and Feinstein. The House has not appointed their conferees.