PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Cathy Keefe
202.408.2183
ckeefe@tia.org, www.tia.org

May 24, 2007

U.S. TRAVEL INDUSTRY APPLAUDS SENATORS COLEMAN AND COLLINS FOR WHTI LEGISLATION, URGES SENATE TO ACT

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. travel industry applauds Senators Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Susan Collins (R-ME) for introducing an amendment to the Senate immigration bill (S. 1348) requiring the Departments of Homeland Security and State to meet certain criteria before implementing the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) at land ports-of-entry.  Other original co-sponsors include Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and John Sununu (R-NH).  The criteria include:

• Development and wide distribution of passport cards to eligible U.S. citizens;
• Completion and analysis of a pilot program exploring the option of enhanced driver’s licenses as proper documentation for cross-border travel;
• Certification that sufficient staffing to meet the increase in passport and passport card demand can be met;
• Establishment of passport and passport card enrollment centers where processing fees can be waived; and
• A full cost-benefit analysis of the WHTI rule.

“The travel and tourism industry commends Senators Coleman and Collins for introducing legislation that seeks to provide American travelers and our Western Hemisphere counterparts with access to secure, low-cost alternative travel documents before WHTI is enforced.  The common-sense provisions of this amendment will ensure that WHTI does not adversely affect cross-border travel and trade between the U.S. and Canada, our biggest trading partner and close ally,” said Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman of the Travel Business Roundtable and chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels. 

“The premature implementation of WHTI at our land borders stands to cost our economy billions of dollars and immeasurable good will, not to mention our security if DHS and State do not take the time necessary to fully test the alternative documents.  We urge the Senate to act expeditiously to pass the Coleman-Collins amendment and continue to work toward a solution to comprehensive immigration reform that protects our economy while securing our borders,” said Roger J. Dow, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association.

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