McAllen Chamber of Commerce
1200 Ash Avenue, McAllen, TX 78501 | (956) 682-2871

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U. S. Citizen Passport Requirement - A CALL TO ACTION

Background

On September 1, 2005, the U.S. government published a notice in the Federal Register regarding the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) and regulations regarding what documentation will be accepted as valid for travelers entering the U.S. The notice also signaled the opening of a public comment period, which ends October 31, 2005.

The WHTI will require all U.S. citizens , citizens of Canada and Mexico, and citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted documentation establishing the bearer's identity and citizenship to enter or re-enter the United States.

Originally scheduled to occur in three phases, the revised proposed timelines are as follows:

• December 31, 2006 - Apply the requirement to all air and sea travel to or from Mexico and Canada.
• December 31, 2007 - Apply the requirement to all air, sea and land border crossings.

The proposed rule indicates that active consideration is being given to alternative documentation, beyond a passport, which may be sufficient to denote citizenship and identity.

It is extremely important to our community’s economic future that you take the time to submit your comments to the Department of Homeland Security.

The McAllen Chamber of Commerce strongly encourages our community and interested stakeholders to submit comments before the October 31, 2005 deadline.

Here are some Keypoints to Make

• WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE DELAY of this initiative until the year 2010. Other types of documents that could be used.
• We recommend the following as alternative documents for proof of U.S citizenship:
• Birth Certificate
• Driver License with documentation of U.S. citizenship
• Documentation established by Border states that meets proof of U.S. citizenship
• Existing FAST and NEXUS cards may also be accepted in lieu of a passport.

The Economic Impact of the Proposal

The passport proposal harms our region. The Perryman Report (2004) makes a conservative assumption of 20% increase wait-time to cross back into the United States. Here is what happens:

• LOSS of 19,000 jobs in the border region (Perryman Report)
• LOSS of 215,044 jobs in Texas (Perryman Report)
• LOSS of personal income ($10.14 billion) in Texas (Perryman Report)
• LOSS of gross product in ($16.20 billion) in Texas (Perryman Report)
• LOSS of total expenditures ($35.31 billion) in Texas (Perryman Report)
• DECLINE of housing values would be between 2.8%-10.6%

The Tourist Impact of the Proposal

The passport rule impacts the Winter Texan market. Winter Texans play a major role in tourism for our region. Passport requirements will increase cost and reduce the number of Winter Texans.

• A loss in the number of Winter Texans visiting our region between 3%-5%.
• A loss of $21 million spent in the local market with a 5% loss of Winter Texan visitors.
• Fewer trips into Mexico means less economic opportunity for Mexican border communities.

The Expense to Individuals and Families

• Expense for Passport requirement will place major financial burden on families living in South Texas. Over 50% of the families in our region have family in Mexico. We have the lowest per capita income in the country.
• Per capita income in Hidalgo County is $10,390
• Average household income in Hidalgo County is $26,742
• Average home income for a single family in Hidalgo County is $24,778
• Percentage of people in Hidalgo County at poverty level is 43.6%
• Number of people in Hidalgo County at poverty level is 280,173

The passport REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE ELIMINATED for children 16 years of age and younger.

Other Key Points

Required infrastructure and program costs will be greatly increased due to requirements for manpower, facilities, systems and tracking control. Because of the negative impact on families, businesses, tourism and economic development, we urge your opposition and action against this initiative.

Instructions to Submit Comments

Be sure to read the instructions carefully for important information.

The U.S. government encourages you to submit contact information in the body of your comment so that you can be contacted for follow-up if necessary; be advised that your entire comment, including personal information, will be published for public viewing as is – this includes online submissions and mail submissions.

1. Log on to the federal regulations web site (www.regulations.gov): Under "Search for Open Regulations" in the keyword blank type in USCBP-2005-0005. Make sure the document is titled "Documents Required for Travel within the Western Hemisphere" then click on "add comments" and follow the instructions.

2. By mail: Comments are to be addressed to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Office of Regulations and Rulings, Regulations Branch, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20229 . Submitted comments may be inspected at the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection at 799 9th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. All submissions must include the agency name (Customs and Border Protection Bureau) and docket number (DHS 2005-0023) or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) (1651-AA66) for this rulemaking. Please Act Now!

P. O. Box 790 • McAllen, Texas 78505
Phone 956-682-2871
Fax: 956-631-8571