On July 26th, 2007. 2:00PM EDT (WASHINGTON, D.C.) Maria Luisa O’Connell, President of the Border Trade Alliance (BTA), testified today before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism at a hearing entitled, “Frequent Traveler Programs: Balancing Security and Commerce at our Land Borders.”
A written transcript and recorded video feed of the hearing is available on the House Committee Web site.
Mrs. O’Connell’s testimony focused on the federal secure traveler programs, including the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), and their impact on trade, travel, and security along the U.S. – Canada and U.S. – Mexico borders.
“The largest security efforts, in terms of dollars and resources dedicated, during the past half-decade have been focused on the verification of traveler identities and their status in entering and exiting the United States. The complex web of secure traveler programs and initiatives has resulted in confusion and uncertainty among both the traveling public and federal agents,” Mrs. O’Connell testified.
The BTA has been integrally involved in all of the various secure traveler programs put forth by Congress and implemented by the federal government. The BTA supports efforts to increase security for legitimate trade and travel at both our international borders. Secure travel is among the highest priority for ensuring for the physical and economic security of our border communities and our homeland.
As part of her testimony, Mrs. O’Connell challenged the Members of the House committee to focus on the need to better coordinate the federal government’s efforts to balance security and travel at our borders:
“How can the various federal secure traveler programs and initiatives be reconciled to maximize increasingly scarce federal resources while improving security and allowing for legitimate travel at our borders?”
Also testifying before the Subcommittee were Mr. Robert M. Jacksta, Executive Director, Traveler Security & Facilitation, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Mr. Neal M. Belitsky, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Detroit & Canada Tunnel Corporation; Mr. Thomas Gann, Vice President, Public Policy, Digimarc Corporation.
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