[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1335 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1335
To require reports on the effectiveness and impacts of the
implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 24, 2009
Mrs. Murray introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require reports on the effectiveness and impacts of the
implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``WHTI Implementation Monitoring Plan
to Assure Continued Travel and Trade Act of 2009'' or the ``IMPACTT Act
of 2009''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Major border crossings.--The term ``major border
crossings'' means the 16 land ports of entry along the
international land border between the United States and Canada
scheduled to be equipped with RFID technology as of June 1,
2009.
(2) RFID.--The term ``RFID'' means radio-frequency
identification.
(3) WHTI.--The term ``WHTI'' means the Western Hemisphere
Travel Initiative required under section 7209(b) of the
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (8
U.S.C. 1185 note).
SEC. 3. REPORTS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL
INITIATIVE.
(a) In General.--Not later than December 1, 2009, and June 1, 2010,
the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall
jointly submit a report to Congress that describes the implementation
of WHTI, with respect to the international land and maritime border
between the United States and Canada.
(b) Contents.--Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall
include--
(1) a description of the effects on travel and trade across
the international land and maritime border between the United
States and Canada due to the implementation of WHTI,
including--
(A) an analysis of the economic impact of WHTI;
(B) monthly figures for passenger and freight
border crossings; and
(C) the effects of WHTI, if any, on travel delays
at major border crossings;
(2) an accounting of the enrollment into frequent traveler
programs, including NEXUS and enrollment for passport cards;
(3) an analysis of the effectiveness of RFID technology,
including an analysis of RFID infrastructure installation;
(4) United States Customs and Border Protection staffing
levels along the international land and maritime border between
the United States and Canada; and
(5) an analysis of the effect of WHTI on overall border
security along the international land and maritime border
between the United States and Canada.
(c) GAO Study.--Not later than 90 days after the submission of each
of the reports required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General
of the United States shall submit a report to Congress that describes--
(1) the economic impact of WHTI; and
(2) the effect of WHTI on overall border security with
respect to the international land and maritime border between
the United States and Canada.
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