[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 178 (Friday, December 9, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S7130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     PROMOTING TRAVEL, COMMERCE, AND NATIONAL SECURITY ACT OF 2016

  The bill (H.R. 6431) to ensure United States jurisdiction over 
offenses committed by United States personnel stationed in Canada in 
furtherance of border security initiatives, was ordered to a third 
reading and was read the third time.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, Congress has now passed the bipartisan 
Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act. In 2015, I 
hailed the signing of a new agreement between the United States and 
Canada designed to improve cross-border travel, commerce, and security 
between our two countries. Since then, there has been legislation 
introduced in both the Senate and the House to allow for full 
implementation of that expanded Canada preclearance agreement. Thirty 
business associations both in the United States and Canada support this 
legislation, and the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Justice 
fully support its passage.
  Let's be clear about one thing: U.S. preclearance operations are 
already under way, in Canada and elsewhere. Preclearance facilities 
allow travelers to pass through U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 
CBP, inspections on foreign soil, prior to traveling to the United 
States. Preclearance operations relieve congestion at U.S. destination 
airports, facilitate commerce, save money, and strengthen national 
security. The United States currently stations CBP officers in select 
locations in Canada to inspect passengers and cargo bound for the 
United States before departing Canada. This legislation will pave the 
way for additional U.S. preclearance facilities in Canada in the 
marine, land, air and rail sectors. In particular, this legislation 
will advance important projects in Vermont: the creation of a 
preclearance facility at Montreal's Central Station, reestablishing 
train service between Vermont and Montreal; and improvements to air 
service between Burlington International Airport and Billy Bishop 
Toronto City Airport.
  This legislation will promote two key national goals: enhancing our 
national security and increasing efficiency for travelers and 
commercial exchanges. With respect to national security, by placing CBP 
personnel at the point of departure, screening occurs before a person 
boards a flight, increasing our ability to prevent those who should not 
be flying to the United States from doing so. In 2014, preclearance 
stopped more than 10,000 inadmissible travelers worldwide before they 
left foreign soil. And with respect to commerce, the United States and 
Canada enjoy one of the largest bilateral economic relationships in the 
world, with $1.4 trillion in bilateral trade and investment and two-way 
trade in goods and services valued at $759 billion in 2014. Each day, 
more than $1.8 billion in goods and services and nearly 390,000 people 
cross the U.S.Canadian border. Preclearance helps further facilitate 
this important economic relationship.
  Preclearance is an issue about which both Democrats and Republicans 
can and do agree. It will enhance border security and stimulate 
economic growth. I look forward to the President signing this bill into 
law.

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