[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 122 (Thursday, August 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. CANTWELL:
  S. 1633. A bill to require the Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
consultation with the Secretary of State, to establish a program to 
issue Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Asia-
Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, Business Travel Cards Act of 2009. 
This bill would authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security and State 
Department to issue APEC Business Travel Cards, ABTC's, to business 
leaders from APEC countries and senior government officials who are 
actively engaged in APEC business.
  The ABTC program has 18 nations participating, including China, Japan 
and Australia, which are among the world's larger economies. The United 
States currently recognizes foreign issued ABTC travel cards. 
Cardholders from non-Visa Waiver Program countries need to present 
valid passports and those from other countries must still obtain U.S. 
visas as required by United States law. However, ABTC card holders are 
allowed to benefit from expedited visa interview scheduling at U.S. 
embassies and consulates, and expedited immigration processing through 
airline crew and diplomat immigration lanes upon arrival at U.S. 
international airports. However, under current law U.S. passport 
holders are not yet eligible to apply for the ABTC program and 
therefore do not enjoy these same benefits in Asia-Pacific countries. 
This bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue 
ABTCs to United States citizen business leaders and senior government 
officials actively engaged in APEC business no later than January 1, 
2010.
  I support the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards 
Act because I have long supported increased free trade with the Asia-
Pacific region. International business travel is an essential part of 
selling goods and services around the world. The 21 member economies of 
APEC together account for around 53 percent of world GDP and 
approximately 48 percent of global trade. This bill would help 
facilitate international cooperation and trade by allowing business 
leaders within the participating countries to enter countries on an 
expedited basis for the length of the program, currently three years.
  The success of the program has been shown by the amount of 
applications for travel cards since inception of the program in 1997. 
From 1997, applications received by participating countries have grown 
by more than 100 percent each year. By March of last year, there were 
more than 34,000 cards being used by APEC countries. The Asia-Pacific 
Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2009 will help 
facilitate global trade within the Asia-Pacific, and create expanded 
export opportunities for U.S. businesses. Working to grow U.S. exports 
will get our economy to grow again and create and maintain U.S. jobs.
  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. 1633

       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 ``Asia-Pacific Economic 
     Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION BUSINESS TRAVEL 
                   CARDS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than January 1, 2010, the 
     Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of State, shall establish a program called the 
     ``APEC Business Travel Program'' to issue Asia-Pacific 
     Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards (ABTC) to eligible 
     United States citizen business leaders and senior United 
     States Government officials actively engaged in Asia-Pacific 
     Economic Cooperation (APEC) business.
       (b) Integration With Existing Travel Programs.--The 
     Secretary of Homeland Security shall integrate application 
     procedures for and issuance of ABTC with other appropriate 
     international registered traveler programs of the Department 
     of Homeland Security, such as Global Entry, NEXUS, and 
     SENTRI.
       (c) Cooperation With Private Entities.--In carrying out 
     this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall work 
     in conjunction with appropriate private sector entities to 
     ensure that applicants for ABTC satisfy ABTC requirements. 
     The Secretary of Homeland Security may utilize such entities 
     to enroll and issue ABTC to qualified applicants.
       (d) Fee.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may 
     impose a fee for the issuance of ABTC, and may modify such 
     fee from time to time as the Secretary determines 
     appropriate.
       (2) Limitation.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
     ensure that the total amount of any fees imposed under 
     paragraph (1) in any fiscal year does not exceed the costs 
     associated with carrying out this section in such fiscal 
     year.
       (3) Crediting to appropriate account.--Fees collected under 
     paragraph (1) shall be credited to the appropriate account of 
     the Department of Homeland Security and are authorized to 
     remain available until expended.
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