Levin Hails Committee Approval of Amendments to Further Examine New Law Requiring Passports at Borders

WASHINGTON – The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee today approved two amendments supported by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., that would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to further analyze the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) before its implementation. The WHTI will require individuals from the United States, Canada, and Mexico to present a passport or other document proving citizenship before entering the United States. The amendments were included in S.4, the Improving America's Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.

“We all share the goals of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative: to make our borders as secure as they can be,” said Levin. “We need to make sure, however, that we are achieving that goal in a pragmatic, cost-effective manner. I’m glad the committee approved my amendments today that ask the Department to conduct further economic analysis of the initiative and to test an alternate solution that would enable citizens to use dual-purpose driver’s licenses at the border rather than obtaining an additional piece of ID.”

Border communities have voiced concern over the impact the initiative may have on commerce and tourism. Levin’s amendments would require economic analysis of the initiative and require DHS to conduct one or more pilot projects to look at alternative solutions. Specifically, the amendments would:

• Mandate the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the WHTI before publishing the final rule, and

• Require the Department of Homeland Security to sign a memorandum of understanding with one or more states to conduct a pilot project to see whether secure driver’s licenses could be used as a form of documentation for travel between the U.S. and Canada under the WHTI. The amendment also provides that DHS must evaluate the pilot project and map out next steps, including an expansion if appropriate. Levin worked on this amendment in conjunction with Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn.