Date: June 20, 2007
LaTourette said decision by federal officials to delay passport requirements for land and sea crossings a “good first step”
Vows that Congress will keep a close watch on State and DHS to see if they’re ready for new requirements next summer
“It’s a good first step, and I’ll keep an eye on how they do,” LaTourette said. “My hunch is they’re being overly optimistic they’ll be ready a year from now. Still, I appreciate the fact they’re giving themselves some wiggle room and could delay implementation further if needed.”
LaTourette authored an amendment to the DHS appropriations bill last week that would prohibit the department from implementing the new land/sea crossing rules until June 1, 2009. Congress had already given the agencies the flexibility to implement the rules then, but they were determined to implement the new rules in January 2008, even in the face of the disastrous implementation of new rules regarding passports for air travel. LaTourette’s amendment passed on Friday morning by an overwhelming margin of 379-45.
LaTourette said he expected Homeland Security to appreciate the effort to give it more time to do the job and do it right, but instead the agency immediately dug in its heels and lashed out at his amendment and an effort in the Senate to delay the implementation of the land/sea phase that will require passports. The land/sea rules could quadruple the number of travel documents the government has to process for those traveling by plane to Canada, Bermuda, the Caribbean and Mexico.
“I knew members were livid about the passport delays and the level of ineptitude, but even I didn’t think 379 House members would send such a tough and unflinching rebuke,” LaTourette said. “It took several days to sink in, but DHS and the State Department finally got the message from Congress and the American people that they’ve done a spectacularly lousy job, and maybe they shouldn’t rush to compound it.”
Under plans announced today by DHS, those traveling to Canada or Mexico by land or sea on or after January 31, 2008, will have to present a government-issued photo ID and proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a certified birth certificate. DHS will no longer allow folks to simply declare they are citizens at land and sea ports of entry.
Next summer, DHS and the State Department “expect” to fully implement the land/sea travel requirements, which will require folks to present a valid passport, a not-yet-available passport card, or another Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative approved document.
LaTourette urged the federal agencies to take as much time as they need to properly implement the new land/sea travel rules.
“Learn from your mistakes. Don’t bite off more than you can chew,” LaTourette said. “Take your time and get it right.”