Caleb Tiller , +1 703-684-0836, ext. 138
Alexandria, VA (May 24, 2007) -- The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) and NBTA-Canada (formerly the Canadian Alliance of Business Travel) today praised a measure introduced by Sens. Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Susan M. Collins (R-ME) that would protect the economic interests of the United States and its most important trading partner, Canada, by improving upon the requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) and taking steps to ameliorate the current backlog of passport applications.
In an amendment to S. 1348, the comprehensive immigration reform legislation being debated in the Senate, Sens. Coleman and Collins advanced language that would:
- Authorize the U.S. State Department to hire additional personnel to manage the high level of passport applications prompted by WHTI
- Allow states with secure driver’s licenses to opt in to a program that would allow citizens to designate their citizenship on the license and make that license acceptable for crossing into the United States from Canada
- Emphasize the U.S. Congress’ intent to ensure passport cards are available as acceptable border-crossing document before the WHTI land-crossing requirement goes into affect
NBTA Executive Director & COO, Bill Connors, said, “Protecting national security means securing our borders in a way that does not reduce the flow of business travel and commerce – particularly between the United States and Canada. Senators Coleman and Collins are to be congratulated on their efforts to fix some the challenges posed by WHTI to our economic security. NBTA looks forward to continuing its role as the voice of the business travel industry in the ongoing discussion about WHTI.”
About NBTA
The National Business Travel Association is the source for critical information on the business travel industry. For nearly 40 years, NBTA has dedicated itself to the professional development of its members through advocacy, education and training, and networking opportunities. NBTA represents over 2,700 corporate and government travel managers and travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than $170 billion of expenditures within the business travel industry. For more on NBTA, visit www.nbta.org.
About NBTA-Canada
The National Business Travel Association – Canada (formerly the Canadian Alliance of Business Travel) is the premiere professional travel management association in Canada. As the Canadian arm of NBTA, the world’s leading business travel association, NBTA-Canada is the Canadian source for critical information on the business travel industry. For nearly 40 years, NBTA has dedicated itself to the professional development of its members through advocacy, education and training, and networking opportunities. NBTA represents over 2,700 corporate and government travel managers and travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than $170 billion of expenditures within the business travel industry. For more on NBTA-Canada, visit www.nbtacanada.org.
La National Business Travel Association est la première association de gestion des voyages d'affaires au Canada. Filiale canadienne de la NBTA, l'association des voyages d'affaires chef de file au monde, NBTA-Canada est une source d'information canadienne essentielle au sein de l'industrie des voyages d'affaires. Depuis près de 40 ans, la NBTA s'engage au perfectionnement professionnel de ses membres en leur offrant le parrainage, la formation et des possibilités de réseautage. La NBTA représente plus de 2 700 gestionnaires de voyages d'entreprise et gouvernementaux, professionnels des rencontres et fournisseurs de services de voyage, qui, ensemble, gèrent des fonds en excès de 170 milliards de dollars. Pour en savoir plus sur la NBTA-Canada, visitez www.nbtacanada.org.
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