Border Trade Alliance

Last week, the House passed several amendments to H.R. 1684, the FY08 Department of Homeland Security Authorization bill, which would affect the implementation of WHTI at land and sea ports of entry. The amendments were derived from legislation introduced by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY), the Protecting American Commerce and Travel Act, H.R. 1061.

The House-passed legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security to:

• To complete an extensive cost-benefit before implementing WHTI;
• Mandatory trials on the passport card technology and a report to Congress before issuing a final rule on WHTI;
• A six-month grace period for travelers who do not have approved documentation;
• A complete exemption for children traveling by land, sea and air in order to make February’s exemption legally binding;

• A public outreach plan to be coordinated between Homeland Security and the U.S. and Canadian travel and trade communities;
• An expansion of NEXUS at the northern border and an harmonization of the NEXUS/FAST program (for commercial travelers);
• One NEXUS program covering land, sea and air travel in North America;
  Two new, permanent NEXUS enrolment centers and two new mobile enrolment centers to travel to under-serviced areas;
• An online application process for NEXUS to make a payment and schedule their in-person interview with border officials as well as the creation of a customer service line for
  cardholder support and enquiries;
• The creation of a publicity campaign for the NEXUS program;
• A requirement to make NEXUS and FAST cards acceptable forms of ID for North American travel and;
• DHS to report to Congress within 120 days of the enactment of the bill.

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