CONTACT: Caleb Tiller | 703-684-0836 ext. 38
Alexandria, VA (June 25, 2004) – The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) today informed its members of significant legislative and regulatory progress made in recent weeks toward realizing the Association’s goals on CAPPSII, visa and passport rules and a Registered Traveler program.
“NBTA is pleased to tell members that our hard work in Washington is showing results,” said NBTA President and CEO Carol A. Devine, CCTE. “Through frequent testimony and meetings with those who make policy and law, we are becoming more recognized as the voice of business travel, and our issues are being heard. The most recent example came this week, when NBTA staff met with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary for Border and Transportation Security Policy and Planning, C. Stewart Verdery, Jr., to reiterate NBTA’s positions on travel security issues.”
CAPPSII
Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2005 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. NBTA praises the Appropriations Committee for its dedication to enhancing transportation security and for including a provision that denies funding for the deployment of CAPPSII until the eight privacy and operational issues listed by the General Accounting Office (GAO) are addressed. This action by the Appropriations Committee matches NBTA’s legislative agenda, which stipulated that CAPPSII should only be implemented after the GAO’s concerns are addressed.
Registered Traveler Program Pilot
Last week, the Transportation Security Administration announced that it will test a Registered Traveler program designed to expedite security screening at the airport for frequent travelers while maintaining high security standards. NBTA has promoted the implementation of a Registered Traveler program for more than two years and supports the efforts of TSA to test this initiative. Elected officials such as Representative John Culberson (R-TX) have been instrumental in supporting the concept. NBTA urges TSA to involve NBTA and other representatives of the travel industry and the traveling public in the pilot.
Extension of Biometric Passport Requirements
The U.S. House of Representatives last week passed 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. As the current deadline of October 2004 would stifle international travel to the United States and hurt the U.S. economy, NBTA supports the passage into law of an extension of at least one year. The leadership of House Judiciary Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-WI.) was central to House passage of the bill. The Senate will soon consider similar legislation.
Data Privacy
This week, the House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 338, the Defense of Privacy Act, which will now go to consideration by the entire House. If passed into law, the act would require that as part of the rulemaking process federal agencies conduct an analysis of the impact of any new rule on the privacy of individuals. NBTA, which has previously expressed its support of this legislation, praises the Judiciary Committee for its approval of H.R. 338.
“NBTA’s leadership on passport requirements and other travel security issues is embodied by recent events such as the meeting with Stewart Verdery of DHS, the NBTA Legislative Summit, NBTA’s testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and NBTA meetings with other administration officials,” said Devine. “With this level of involvement and visibility, we have made significant progress. However, there is still work to be done and we will maintain a strong push in Washington on the issues that matter to our members. On the passport front, we will focus efforts on the Senate consideration of a law extending the biometric passport deadline for visa waiver countries. On the privacy front, we will work on passage of H.R. 338, the Defense of Privacy Act, which would require as part of the rulemaking process federal agencies conduct an analysis of the impact of any new rule on the privacy of individuals.”
For more information on NBTA’s legislative goals and work so far in 2004, see the NBTA web site.
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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