Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011

Floor Speech

FOREIGN RELATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT, FISCAL YEARS 2010 AND 2011 -- (House of Representatives - June 10, 2009)

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Mr. PETERS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Chair, today, we are considering important legislation that will support efforts to strengthen, to modernize and to rebuild the capacity of the Department of State to fulfill its core diplomatic mission. This legislation will also increase the arms control and the nonproliferation capabilities of the State Department; it will reform the system of export controls for military technology; and it will improve the oversight of U.S. security assistance abroad.

As we expand our diplomatic capabilities, we must remember that trade is the driving force of both our economy and of our international diplomacy. In December of 2004, Congress passed the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. As of June 1, 2009, this initiative now requires that travelers have passports for all land and sea crossings, including travel to and from Canada and Mexico.

We need to know exactly how these new passport requirements are affecting our economy. Obviously, prudent security measures must be undertaken to keep Americans safe, but we also need to assess whether these measures are working and how they affect border State businesses. My amendment will require such an assessment. Congress can then determine whether corrective action is needed to change the requirements or to provide relief to border State businesses or both.

The Peters amendment would require the Secretary of State to submit to Congress within 18 months of the passage of this act a report on the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: on the flow of people, goods and services across the international borders of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region.

The amendment stipulates the report should pay specific attention to the effects on small businesses and and the measure's effectiveness in strengthening border security. Increasing the security of our borders must be a top priority from Congress. We must also ensure that implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is carried out in a manner that increases our national security but does not unnecessarily hinder trade and strain our small businesses.

With our Nation's fight through a recession, it is particularly important that we assess the effect measures approved by this body have on our economy.

I greatly appreciate the support from my friend and colleague from New Mexico, Congressman Teague, for his office's assistant on this important amendment and help on issues of importance to both our northern and southern border regions, and I urge my colleagues to support my amendment.

Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. PETERS. Madam Chair, my amendment is a commonsense measure that ensures that the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative's effects on small businesses are known and reported to Congress in a timely manner. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative must be implemented in a way that strengthens our national security, maintains robust trade and tourism with our neighbors, and protects our Nation's small businesses.

I would like to thank Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Berman and Rules Committee Chairwoman Slaughter.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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