CONTACT: Caleb Tiller | 703-684-0836 ext. 38
Alexandria, VA (June 15, 2004) – The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) lauded the passage yesterday by the U.S. House of Representatives of H.R. 4417, a bill that would extend by one year the deadline for countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to begin issuing passports that include biometric identifiers. NBTA has been at the forefront of industry efforts to support strong travel security without causing unnecessary negative impact on travel.
“Because most Visa Waiver countries would not be able to meet the current October 2004 deadline, keeping the requirement in place would hurt thousands of American businesses that depend on international travel and would be harmful to the American travel and tourism industry,” said NBTA President and CEO Carol A. Devine, CCTE. “By passing H.R. 4417, the U.S. House has shown that it recognizes the importance of travel to our economy.”
The extension of biometric visa requirements has been a focus of NBTA legislative efforts for the past year. As the Senate considers similar legislation, the Association continues to work in support of international business travel.
Devine continued, “Travel from Visa Waiver countries is one of the key factors in continued economic recovery. It is imperative that the extension of biometric visa requirements now be passed into law to give these countries enough time to meet the standards.”
NBTA today sent a letter to Senator Orrin Hatch, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is holding a hearing today on visa and passport issues. The letter says, in part, “The current uncertainty around the VWP has already caused the delay of many business trips planned for the late fall and winter and has hampered bids by United States organizations to hold international conferences. Clearly, requiring travelers from VWP countries to begin applying for visas before traveling to the United States would cost American businesses across the country hundreds of millions of dollars.”
The National Business Travel Association is the source for critical information on the business travel industry. For more than 35 years, NBTA has dedicated itself to the professional development of its members through advocacy, education and training, and networking opportunities. NBTA represents over 2,400 corporate travel managers and travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than $170 billion of expenditures within the business travel industry.
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