[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 15 (Monday, January 26, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. VOINOVICH (for himself and Mr. Tester, and Ms. Klobuchar):
  S. 321. A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security and the 
Secretary of State to accept passport cards at air ports of entry and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I rise today with Senators Tester and 
Klobuchar to introduce the Passport Card Travel Enhancement Act of 2009 
in order to allow United States citizens to use passport cards for air 
travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the 
Caribbean.
  Over the past several years, the Departments of State, State, and 
Homeland Security, DHS, have worked hard to implement the Western 
Hemisphere Travel Initiative, WHTI, as recommended by the National 
Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. As part of 
those efforts, State has developed the United States passport card as a 
cheaper, more portable alternative to a United States passport book. 
The passport card is adjudicated to the exact same standards as the 
passport book and allows United States citizens to enter United States 
land and sea ports-of-entry from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and 
Bermuda, but the card does not allow for any air travel. In my mind, 
this discrepancy makes no sense, and the passport card should allow for 
air travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and 
the Caribbean for several reasons.
  First, prior to 2007, United States citizens rarely needed a passport 
to enter the United States by air from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda or the 
Caribbean. Rather, United States citizens were only required to satisfy 
inspecting officers of their identities and citizenship. This practice 
changed in 2007, when WHTI went into effect for air travel. I think we 
all recall the events that occurred following WHTI air implementation, 
when State was deluged with passport applications, the time necessary 
to get a passport expanded from the typical four to six weeks to 
several months, and some Americans were forced to cancel trips. We need 
to avoid problems like that in the future by providing United States 
citizens with more documents that comply with WHTI.
  Further, State's ``Card Format Passport; Changes to Passport Fee 
Schedule'' final rule states that the passport card ``is not intended 
to be a globally interoperable travel document,'' and ``will not be 
designed to meet the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, 
standards and recommendations for globally interoperable passports,'' 
but I do not believe that these facts mean that the passport card 
cannot be used for limited, western hemisphere air travel. In fact, I 
question whether globally interoperable passport standards and 
recommendations need be met in order to use passport cards for the 
limited flights allowed by the Passport Card Travel Enhancement Act of 
2009 because DHS's NEXUS card, which does not meet ICAO standards, is 
currently accepted as an alternative to a passport for some air travel 
between the United States and Canada.
  Lastly, in today's current economic climate, I believe we must foster 
secure, legitimate trade and tourism between the United States and our 
allies. Providing additional, less expensive ways for our constituents 
to comply with WHTI is good government and makes sense for our Nation's 
security and economic prosperity.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 321

       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 ``Passport Card Travel 
     Enhancement Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. PASSPORT CARD DEFINED.

       In this Act, the term ``passport card'' means the 
     document--
       (1) known as a passport card that is issued to a national 
     of the United States on the same basis as a regular passport; 
     and
       (2) that the Secretary of State began issuing during 2008.

     SEC. 3. PASSPORT CARDS FOR AIR TRAVEL.

       (a) Requirement to Accept Passport Cards for Air Travel.--
     Notwithstanding any regulation issued by the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security or the Secretary of State, the Secretary of 
     Homeland Security and the Secretary of State shall permit a 
     passport card issued to a citizen of the United States to 
     serve as proof of identify and citizenship of such citizen if 
     such citizen is departing from or entering the United States 
     through an air port of entry for travel that terminates or 
     originates in--
       (1) Bermuda;
       (2) Canada;
       (3) a foreign country located in the Caribbean; or
       (4) Mexico.
       (b) Fees for Passport Cards.--Neither the Secretary of 
     State or the Secretary of Homeland Security may increase, or 
     propose an increase to, the fee for issuance of a passport 
     card as a result of the requirements of subsection (a).
       (c) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State and the 
     Secretary of Homeland shall issue final regulations to 
     implement this Act.
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