Committee: Economic Development, Trade & Cultural Affairs
Policy: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative or U.S. Canada Border Crossings
Sponsor: Representative Donna Stone, Delaware
Version: Introduced
History: Introduced Fall Forum 2005
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)
On April 5, 2005, the Departments of Homeland Security and State announced the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) which would require all travelers to and from the United States to have a passport or other accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. The federal government asserts that this initiative will increase the safety measures at the borders.
On September 1, 2005, the U.S. government published in the Federal Register an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on the plan to implement the WHTI and opened a period of public comment on the plan.
The ANPR confirmed the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and State have delayed and simplified the implementation of WHTI and now says that the rules will apply to all individuals traveling to the United States by air and by sea beginning December 31, 2006, and will apply to all individuals entering or re-entering the U.S. via its land border crossings as of December 31, 2007.
Impacts on Trade and Tourism
The WHTI as currently outlined will be a deterrent to travel and negatively impact the total number of border crossings, having significant implications for the economies of both Canada and the United States. The Canada–United States border relationship is a special one with more than 300,000 business people, tourists, and regular commuters traveling between Canada and the United States every day. On average $1.1-billion in goods crosses the Canada-United States Border every day. It is estimated that fifty-six percent (56%) of same-day travelers from the United States, forty percent (40%) of same-day travelers from Canada, fifty percent (50%) of overnight travelers from the United States, and thirty percent (30%) of overnight travelers from Canada do not possess a passport.
A recent report prepared by Conference Board of Canada for the Canadian Tourism Commission estimates that this passport requirement would result in 3.5 million fewer trips into the United States from Canada by 2008 with a related loss of $785 million in potential tourism revenue. Likewise, the report estimates 7.7 million fewer trips by U.S. citizens into Canada and $1.7 billion in lost revenues.
NCSL on Trade and Tourism
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) recognizes that tourism is a vital element of state economic development, diversification, and rural development programs as well as a leading services sector employer. As evidence of its importance to the U.S. economy, travel and tourism is the nation's largest export industry, ranks as the nation's third largest employer, and is the third largest retail sales industry. NCSL also acknowledges that free and open trade can bolster economies and increase standards of living and that measures that restrict the free flow of individuals and goods between the United States and Canada could negatively impact both economies.
Alternative Measures to the WHTI
NCSL applauds efforts by the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and State to further secure America’s borders and protect the well-being of U.S. residents and their property. However, NCSL strongly encourages the federal government to seek the least onerous measures possible where the U.S. Canada border is concerned in full recognition of the trade and tourism traffic that benefits the people and nations on both sides of that line. To this end, NCSL encourages the federal government to fully explore frequent border-crossing programs – such as NEXUS, FAST, and CANPASS – and the range of identity documentation or passport substitutes that could employed. At the same time, NCSL implores the federal government – the U.S. Congress, the White House, and the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and State – to fully and effectively consult with NCSL and state legislatures to ensure that state interests and concerns are factored into these border security plans. Further, NCSL supports a delay, if necessary, in the implementation of WHTI to ensure that federal action along America’s northern border has a minimal effect on tourism, trade, citizens’ way-of-life, and states’ economies while achieving the goal of homeland security.
NCSL looks forward to working with the appropriate federal officials as they work to guarantee American security while sustaining American quality of life and commerce. To wit, NCSL’s position shall be communicated, inter alia¸ to the Chairmen and Ranking members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the House Homeland Security Committee and the House International Relations Committee, as well as the President of the United States, the U.S. Secretary of State, and the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. NCSL also looks forward to working with the Prime Minister of Canada, the Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Canada, as well as to the Governors, Premiers and legislative leaders of the states and provinces that share these common borders.
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