Congressional Record, Volume 157 Issue 161 (Tuesday, October 25, 2011)

[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 161 (Tuesday, October 25, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H7034-H7036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION BUSINESS TRAVEL CARDS ACT OF 2011

Mr. TURNER of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 2042) 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.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 2042

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 2011''.

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

(a) In General.--Not later than November 11, 2011, 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.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Turner) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Loretta
Sanchez) will each control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.

General Leave

Mr. TURNER of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.

[[Page H7035]]

Mr. TURNER of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 2042, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Business Travel Cards Act of 2011.
This measure is needed to grant to the Department of Homeland
Security the authority to issue ``APEC'' business cards, ABTC, as part
of their overall Trusted Traveler programs operated by Customs and
Border Protection for expedited reentry into the United States.
The APEC Business Travel Cards program is an initiative of the Asia-
Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and is designed to facilitate
commerce by promoting fast and efficient travel of eligible
businesspeople and government officials within the Asian-Pacific
region.
This legislation will allow eligible U.S. business travelers to apply
for Trusted Traveler cards for expedited entry to certain Asian-Pacific
nations which are members of the APEC forum.
As a transitional member of APEC, the United States already provides
foreign business travelers who have APEC Business Travel Cards with
expedited scheduling of visa interviews at U.S. Embassies and
consulates and use of dedicated lanes of expedited entry when traveling
to the United States.

{time} 1350

However, since the United States has not yet issued cards for U.S.
citizens who wish to participate in this program, Americans are
currently unable to enjoy the same time-saving benefits that some
70,000 foreign holders of APEC Business Travel Cards enjoy when coming
to the United States.
During these challenging economic times, we must all do what we can
to facilitate business development, which includes encouraging
international travel and negotiations. Expanding U.S. participation in
the APEC Business Travel Card is a simple way to support these goals
and facilitate travel, whether it be through LAX or JFK.
Of note, this legislation would have no detriment on the homeland
security of the United States as all foreign visitors who are citizens
of an APEC member economy must continue to go through the standard
travel procedures of obtaining a visa or filling out the Web-based
Electronic System for Travel Authorization for Visa Waiver Program
countries. Currently, 18 of the 21 APEC economies are full members of
the APEC Business Travel Card program. The United States currently
participates as a transitional member, along with Canada and Russia,
and enacting this legislation will demonstrate U.S. commitment to
economic integration and engagement in the Asia-Pacific region.
This measure has strong bipartisan support and enjoys the support of
the U.S. business community, including the National Center for APEC,
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S. Travel Association.
I urge Members to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my
time.
Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2042. As a member of
the Committee on Homeland Security and as a Representative from the
great State of California, which has very strong economic ties to the
Pacific region, I am proud to be a cosponsor of what I believe is one
of the most important things that we can do with respect to trade and
getting American jobs going.
The primary goal of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
organization is to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity
in the Asia-Pacific region. The United States is among the group's 21-
member economies, which account for 55 percent of global GDP. They
purchase 58 percent of United States' goods exports and comprise a
market of 2.7 billion consumers. Seven of America's top 15 trade
partners are in APEC.
This bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security, in
consultation with the Secretary of State, to establish a program to
issue APEC Business Travel Cards to eligible U.S. citizen business
leaders and senior United States Government officials who are actively
engaged in APEC business. The APEC Business Travel Cards would expedite
the individuals' international travel within the 21 APEC-member
economies. There are similar cards already available to APEC travelers
in the United States. H.R. 2042 would allow U.S. citizens to enjoy
similar travel benefits abroad.
It requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to integrate
application procedures for and issuance of APEC Business Travel Cards
with other appropriate international registered traveler programs of
the Department of Homeland Security such as SENTRI, Global Entry and
NEXUS, as well as some of the other programs we already have to
expedite travel from one country into the other. Finally, the bill
permits the Secretary of Homeland Security, of course, to impose a fee
that would cover the cost of issuing these cards. H.R. 2042 is also
supported by the Obama administration.
Next month, the U.S. is hosting APEC for 2011, which is the first
time since 1993. It's going to include meetings in Washington, D.C.; in
Big Sky, Montana; and in San Francisco, California, culminating in the
APEC Leaders Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii, in November. So I think it
would be appropriate that the House pass H.R. 2042 in advance of this
meeting next month.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TURNER of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
distinguished gentleman from the State of Texas (Mr. Brady).
Mr. BRADY of Texas. I rise in support of H.R. 2042, the APEC Business
Travel Card, and I appreciate working with my counterpart, Congressman
Larsen, on this legislation.
This bill provides security-vetted American business and government
travelers the same time-saving benefits as their counterparts in other
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation countries. The bill is supported by
leaders in both parties, including the chairman of the Homeland
Security Committee, Representative Peter King. I appreciate his
leadership, as this provision was included in the authorizing bill
recently reported by the House Committee on Homeland Security.
The card was originally created to increase the economic engagement
in a region that continues to grow and grow, and to expedite secure
business travel for those who make frequent business trips to these
economies. But today, the United States is only one of three economies
within APEC that hasn't yet provided these travel cards to their
frequent business travelers. This bill would allow Customs and Border
Protection to issue the travel card to our citizens after conducting
background checks, confirming frequent travel to the APEC region, and
collecting fees to cover the full costs.
The two big benefits beyond increased security is the equal treatment
for Americans. Our counterparts, frequent business and government
travelers, who do business within these countries in the region already
enjoy these benefits. This provides it to United States citizens.
Basically, it then makes sure we stay competitive in that region, which
is a region that is growing economically and represents more than half
of the world's economy. They buy almost 58 percent of what America
sells, so they are, as Congresswoman Sanchez says, major new customers
for our farmers and ranchers, for our technology companies, for our
manufacturing companies, and for our service workers as well.
I fully support this bill. It is important that our business
travelers in America get out there to sell American products throughout
this important region. It has strong business support, and I urge
Member support as well.
Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to
the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen).
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of
H.R. 2042, the APEC Business Travel Card bill. This bill is bipartisan,
and it levels the playing field for U.S. businessmen and -women who
export their products into other APEC economies.
Since joining the APEC Business Travel Card program as a transitional
member in 2007, the U.S. has been extending the benefits of having an
APEC Business Travel Card to foreign businessmen and -women in 18 other
economies but not to our own. These benefits include being permitted to
use the ``crew'' or designated ``APEC Business Travel Card'' lanes in
airports when entering a country as well as having expedited visa
processing. As of October

[[Page H7036]]

12, 2011, there were over 100,000 foreign ABTC holders--but no
Americans.
Today's legislation simply levels the playing field by directing the
Department of Homeland Security to establish an APEC Business Travel
Card that will allow Americans to use the card to gain expedited entry
into participating APEC economies when they go abroad and use Customs
and Border Protection's, or CBP's, Global Entry program for expedited
reentry back into the United States. This will make travel throughout
the Asia-Pacific region easier for American businessmen and -women and
will help them to more efficiently sell their products overseas.
I want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady),
for his hard work on this bill as well as fellow APEC Caucus cochairs,
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) and the gentleman from
California (Mr. Herger), for their support as well.
The future of the United States is tied to the Asia-Pacific region.
With the hosting of the APEC summit by the United States in less than a
month, it is important that the APEC Business Travel Card program is
established. I urge my colleagues to support this bill as well.
In conclusion, I want to thank the leadership of this House for
working with me and the gentleman from Texas to get this bill scheduled
for House consideration.

{time} 1400

Mr. TURNER of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time and am prepared to close once the gentlelady does.
Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2042 represents a small but important step towards
facilitating travel and enhancing business ties with our Asia-Pacific
region, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TURNER of New York. Mr. Speaker, in closing, this bill is an
opportunity to facilitate travel, promote economic growth, and enhance
security.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2042 would require the
Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of
State, to establish a program to issue APEC Business Travel Cards to
eligible United States business leaders and government officials.
Under this program, U.S. citizens actively engaged in APEC business
would receive expedited screening in international travel within the 21
APEC member economies.
H.R. 2042 requires DHS to integrate application procedures for and
issuance of APEC Business Travel Cards with other appropriate DHS
international trusted traveler programs such as Global Entry, NEXUS,
and SENTRI.
I strongly support those three DHS trusted traveler programs, which
facilitate international travel for pre-approved, low-risk passengers
while allowing DHS to focus its resources on higher-risk and unknown
passengers.
H.R. 2042 is supported by the Obama Administration, and I also
support the bill.
However, I am dismayed that with just 19 days left in the First
Session of the 112th Congress, H.R. 2042 is the first Committee on
Homeland Security bill to reach the House floor.
I would note that the last time the Committee brought legislation to
the House floor was when I was still Chairman--at the end of December
2010.
With respect to H.R. 2042, let the record reflect that the path to
the floor involved bypassing Committee consideration. I did not object
to this approach, given that the APEC conference is slated to commence
in Hawaii next month.
The Democratic Members of the Committee are committed to ensuring
that the full breadth and depth of homeland security issues facing our
Nation are addressed.
To date, eighty homeland security bills have been introduced and
referred to the Committee. The subject matter of these bills range from
border security to aviation security to counterterrorism to
preparedness and response.
Unfortunately, only a handful of homeland security bills have
actually been considered in Committee and only one has been reported to
the House. That bill is now pending before another Committee.
The failure of the Committee on Homeland Security to advance
meaningful homeland security legislation that speaks to the oversight
finding of the Committee in the 112th Congress is inexcusable.
Though I recognize that the hour is late on the congressional
calendar, I sincerely hope that consideration of H.R 2042 today signals
the commencement of a more active legislative period for the Committee.
Nevertheless, I urge the House to support H.R. 2042 today.
Mr. HERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the APEC Business
Travel Cards Act because it is another measure that helps create a
favorable environment for job creation. As a co-chair of the APEC
Caucus, I strongly believe that continued engagement in the Asia-
Pacific region is critical to U.S. economic growth. The Asia-Pacific
region is the most economically dynamic region in the world, home to
two-thirds of the world's population and over half of all global trade.
The legislation before us will help American businesses be more
competitive in these growing markets. The easier our businesses can
access these foreign markets, the more they can sell American goods and
services abroad. The United States already recognizes the APEC Business
Travel Card held by foreign nationals, giving them expedited travel
processing. It is past time that we allow American businesses leaders
around the country the same travel benefits that foreign APEC
businesses travelers have been enjoying for years. This is a common
sense bill that streamlines travel for American businesses that are
trying to grow and reach customers in foreign markets. This legislation
is long overdue and I urge my colleagues to support it.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Turner) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2042.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

____________________