[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 114 (Thursday, July 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1123]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 A BILL TO ESTABLISH AN ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION FOR 
                   THE GUAM CNMI VISA WAIVER PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 14, 2016

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce legislation that would 
authorize and establish an Electronic System for Travel Authorization 
(ESTA) for the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, and direct revenue from 
the established system to fund CEP operations and staffing needs for 
ports of entry in Guam and the CNMI.
  The regional Guam-CNMI VWP recognizes Guam's unique location in Asia, 
and the need to be more competitive for tourists from other Asian 
nations. With Guam's primary source of economic revenue being tourism 
from Asia, my legislation would address several issues that have 
hampered the industry and that continues to cost CBP millions of 
dollars annually in processing costs. The majority of foreign arrivals 
at Guam International Airport are those traveling under the Guam-CNMI 
VWP, and long immigration lines are a recurring issue due to limited 
staffing capacity when arrivals peak at Guam International Airport. At 
their peak--sometimes 1,200 passengers arrive when multiple flights 
arrive nearly simultaneously--the wait times at immigration can be as 
long as two and a half hours.
  I recognize that there are complaints about long wait lines at other 
international ports of entries including Guam. However, many of our 
visitors come from Japan and South Korea. In fact, some Japan 
television shows and radio programs have mocked the long lines and wait 
times at Guam International Airport. The flight from Japan or South 
Korea is a little over 3 hours and, sadly, some of these visitors have 
waited about as long in line. That is unacceptable and runs counter to 
the President's goal of improving the arrivals process for 
international travelers arriving in the United States, as outlined in a 
memorandum to heads of executive departments and agencies on May 22, 
2014. My legislation would work to address the problems that are 
occurring with long wait times at our respective port of entries. 
Tourism is critical to the economies of the region, and we cannot let 
an antiquated visitor entry system and inadequate staffing harm our 
economy.
  Establishing an ESTA specific to the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program 
would help to address several issues faced by visitors arriving at Guam 
International Airport. First, the current process relies on a paper-
based system which is cumbersome and only adds to the delays when 
arriving The bill would allow CBP to automate that process and, as a 
result, save an estimated $4 million annually that is used by CBP to 
process and file the paper forms. This is a common sense reform that 
will save the federal government money and improve the customer 
experience at Guam International Airport and ports of entry in the 
CNMI.
  Admittedly, CBP has the authority to create an ESTA system for the 
Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program; however, they do not have the authority 
to direct revenues collected from this automated process towards 
staffing at ports of entry in Guam and CNMI. As such, it is the 
consensus of tourism industry leaders and other stakeholders that there 
is an ultimate need for this legislation. I am informed that staffing 
has not increased in Guam since after the 9/11 attacks. The CBP 
staffing pattern was sufficient, but as the number of tourists grows on 
Guam the lines have also grown and the staffing has not kept up with 
demand. Making the visitor entry process into ports of entry in Guam 
and CNMI electronic is part of the solution, but additional staffing is 
still required especially since nearly 50% of our visitors are first-
time visitors and cannot avail themselves of Automated Passport Control 
(APC) systems.
  Earlier this month, Guam once again hosted the Electric Island 
Festival (EIF), a two-day event which brings together DJs from the 
Asia-Pacific region. Nearly 4,000 visitors attended EIF last year. I am 
both proud and humbled at the innovative programming that brings people 
from all over the world to Guam. Further, in late May and early June 
Guam hosted the Festival of the Pacific Arts (FestPac) a once every 
four years major regional cultural event, and is the largest gathering 
in which Pacific peoples unite to enhance their respect and 
appreciation of one another. A significant number of visitors came to 
Guam to participate in FestPac, and I appreciate the commitment of 
Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske to ensure there was adequate staffing 
at Guam International Airport. But that additional staffing was 
accomplished by approving extra overtime for employees which is a 
costly endeavor. Events like FestPac and EIF show the maturation and 
growth of Guam's tourism industry. Improving the processes and 
capabilities of our ports of entry to ensure a pleasant experience for 
our visitors is a top priority, and the solutions must be long-standing 
and sustainable. We cannot simply rely on overtime of employees to meet 
the current and emerging demands at our main international port of 
entry.
  An ESTA for the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program is an innovative, 
sustainable, common-sense, and cost-saving solution that would not only 
save the federal government millions and increase resources to improve 
CBP capabilities. More importantly, it would ultimately modernize and 
improve a Visa Waiver Program that continues to benefit the people of 
Guam and CNMI. My bill would help ensure that federal policy enhances 
economic opportunities and development in our region instead of being 
an impediment.

                          ____________________