[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 17 (Monday, January 29, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S1291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mrs. Hutchison):
  S. 422. A bill to authorize any alien who has been issued a valid 
machine-readable biometric border crossing identification card to be 
temporarily admitted into the United States upon successfully 
completing a background check; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President. I rise today to introduce the Secure 
Border Crossing Card Entry Act of 2007. This bill allows certain 
travelers who seek to enter the U.S. temporarily and have already 
undergone rigorous security screening prior to entry and at the border, 
to enter our country and remain for up to 6 months.
  We all agree that comprehensive immigration reform is a top priority 
this year--not only for the administration but also for Congress. I 
have stated that no effort on immigration reform can succeed without 
enhanced border security and worksite enforcement. We have been working 
hard to ramp up our border and interior enforcement efforts. Just last 
year, Congress dedicated approximately $1.3 billion in last years 
Homeland Security Appropriations bill targeted at enhanced border 
security. I am pleased that the President and Secretary Chertoff have 
made border security a top priority this year as well.
  Strong border security, however, must be balanced against policies 
that facilitate legitimate trade and travel to the U.S. The security of 
our Nation is always paramount. But we also must ensure that the U.S. 
remains an economic leader and a welcoming nation for visitors who seek 
to enjoy the many business and recreational benefits that the U.S. has 
to offer.
  We have in place now a program that allows visitors who possess a 
machine-readable border crossing card, also known as the ``laser 
visa,'' to enter this country for up to 30 days. The laser visa is 
issued by the State Department to Mexican nationals, but only after 
they have been screened and determined not to be a security risk or 
inadmissible to the U.S. Laser visa holders are screened again when 
they come to our borders and are inspected by an immigration inspector.
  Canadian visitors, on the other hand, are not required to get a laser 
visa from the State Department prior to seeking to enter the U.S. 
Canadian visitors also can remain in the U.S. for up to 6 months 
initially. I see no reason that we should treat citizens and nationals 
of our northern neighbor differently from our southern neighbor.
  The goal of this bill is to treat all citizens and nationals of our 
northern and southern neighbors seeking to temporarily visit the U.S. 
the same--allowing them to temporarily visit or conduct business in the 
U.S. for up to 6 months. And, because laser visa holders must undergo 
background checks before they are issued their secure travel documents, 
this policy change would not conflict with our country's goal of 
improving border security.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
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