WashingtonWire - 2005-04-18

U.S. May Need Passports For Canada, Mexico
The federal departments of Homeland Security and State this month proposed new rules that by 2008 would require the use of passports for Americans traveling to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and such Caribbean countries as the British Virgin Islands, unless an alternative document can be created that meets the security parameters established in a new terrorism prevention law enacted last year. "We recognize the implications this might have for industry, business and the general public, as well as our neighboring countries, and they are important partners in this initiative," said Maura Harty, the assistant secretary of state for consular affairs. "The advanced notice of proposed rule making will allow these affected publics to voice concern and provide ideas for alternate documents acceptable under the law. The overarching need is to implement this legal requirement in a way that strengthens security, while facilitating the movement of persons and goods." Officials said they intend to phase in the new documentation requirements. The program, beginning Dec. 31, 2005, would require passports for U.S. citizens reentering from the Caribbean and Central and South America by air or sea, government officials said. The U.S. government would require passports for all crossings between the United States and Mexico and Canada by Dec. 31, 2007, they said.

David Stone To Leave TSA In June
David Stone, the third person to lead the Transportation Security Administration since its inception in 2002, will leave the job in June, the agency said. Stone, a former Naval admiral who was confirmed by the Senate last July to head the agency responsible for protecting U.S. airports, railways, and ports, announced his intentions about one month after Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff took office. "Admiral Stone has informed Secretary Chertoff of his intention to step down from TSA and has agreed to the Department's request to remain until June to assist with the transition of a successor," agency spokesman Mark Hatfield said. Congress created TSA to put airport security under government control in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks. The agency's first director, John Magaw, resigned six months after taking the job, as critics complained that TSA spending and hiring was excessive. Since then, some congressional critics have said TSA has become a bloated bureaucracy that has not done enough to improve technology and security at airports.

NBTA Seeks Biometric Passport Extension
The National Business Travel Association is urging U.S. lawmakers and the Bush administration to extend a deadline for members of the European Union and other participants in the Visa Waiver Program to begin including biometric information on passports required to enter the U.S. In an April 5 letter to several congressional and administration officials, the association said most countries aren't yet able to meet the requirement, and enforcing it will hurt cross-border trade and commerce. "International travel is crucial to the American economy, and NBTA is vehemently opposed to any action that could result not only in a downturn of business travelers to the U.S., but in possible retaliation against U.S. business travelers overseas," wrote Bill Connors, the association's executive director and chief operating officer. Biometric passports originally were to have been in use by October 2004, but the U.S. granted a one-year extension. Now, NBTA says another extension is needed. House Judiciary Committee chairman F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Wis.) has said a request by the EU for another extension is "unlikely" to be granted and said countries should "plan without the expectation that there will be an extension of the deadline."