[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 86 (Friday, June 24, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 MOUNTING EVIDENCE OF WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE'S NEGATIVE 
                                 IMPACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 23, 2005

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, at a recent Senate hearing on the Western 
Hemisphere Travel Initiative, Senator Norm Coleman wisely asserted that 
``if you studied the Constitution, you will not find a section 
entitled, `The Law of Unintended Consequences.' But it might as well be 
there.''
  Indeed, in the course of policymaking, unintended consequences can 
arise. It is thus the responsibility of lawmakers and policy 
practitioners to account for and mitigate these unforeseen effects. 
This seems to be the case as it relates to the Bush Administration's 
proposed Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
  The Initiative will require all travelers to and from the Americas, 
the Caribbean, and Bermuda to have a passport to enter or re-enter the 
United States in order to strengthen border security. However, the 
Initiative is to be implemented in region specific phases, with travel 
to the Caribbean being affected by the end of 2005. Travel to Canada 
and Mexico will not be affected until the end of 2007--two full years 
later. It is expected that the early requirements will be a significant 
disincentive to U.S. travelers planning trips to the Caribbean, as this 
group is currently not required to utilize a passport.
  A recent article in the New York publication CaribNews points to 
growing evidence of the Initiative's substantial negative impact. The 
article cited forecasts released by the World Travel Tourism Council 
(WTTC) which revealed that as much as $2.6 billion of travel related 
export earnings, and 188,000 travel and tourism jobs could be lost in 
the Caribbean due to the Initiative.
  These are sobering statistics, especially considering what the 
Caribbean has been through in the last year. As most of us know, the 
Caribbean was devastated by destructive hurricanes and extreme flooding 
in late 2004. The region incurred billions of dollars in damage, and is 
only now starting to recover. In particular, the vital tourism sector 
is just starting to get back on its feet. If true, the forecasts by the 
WTTC spell further hard times ahead for our neighbors.

  The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) also cited statistics 
from the WTTC during the recent Senate hearing, where it stated that 
several Caribbean nations will be ``seriously impacted'' by the 
Initiative. The ASTA provided statistics that show nearly 80 percent of 
U.S. visitors to some islands, such as Jamaica, do not currently 
utilize passports. With passport processing times of up to 2 months, 
and processing fees which can exceed $100.00, scores of U.S. tourists 
may choose vacation options that entail less hassle. The group further 
added that imposing the new requirements on the Caribbean earlier than 
other regions would likely cause a ``diplomatic controversy.''
  ASTA also asserted that the early requirements will have negative 
implications for components of the U.S. travel industry, such as cruise 
ships, airlines, and travel agents, due to the forecasted reduction in 
U.S. travelers to the region. ASTA highlighted the particular case of 
the cruise industry, where unlike land based travel, substantial 
advance booking is commonplace.
  With many cruise packages to the Caribbean selling for as little as 
$400.00, the $100.00+ passport processing fees that WHTI would 
necessitate, would represent an additional 25 percent in the original 
vacation price. With such a large and unexpected increase, many U.S. 
travelers may cancel their existing reservations. With over 3,578 
cruises ships visiting the region in 2004, representing 6,380,021 in 
total passenger potential, this is no small consequence.
  Also of note, the Advanced Notice for Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) 
process for the WHTI--where the public and industry are provided the 
opportunity to give their input and concerns on the proposal--has yet 
to be initiated by the appropriate government authorities. This is the 
case despite the fact that the new travel requirements for the 
Caribbean are set to go into effect in little more than 6 months. Even 
if the process does proceed, most entities in the U.S. travel industry 
will not have the time, or budget, to adequately inform the public by 
the Dec. 31, 2005 deadline. As such, the travel industry is urging the 
Administration to push back the timetable for the WHTI, especially as 
it relates to the Caribbean.
  Mr. Speaker, all these facts, statistics, and opinions suggest that 
with the proposed Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative we are getting a 
lot more than we bargained for. Fortunately, we have an opportunity to 
make the appropriate modifications to ensure that this policy not only 
strengthens the security of the American people, but also protects the 
interests of the American traveler, and the economic interests of the 
United States and our regional neighbors. More than an opportunity, it 
is an obligation.




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