PORT ANGELES — Community and business leaders are traveling to Washington, D.C., next week as part of a nationwide lobbying effort against stricter identification requirements for people crossing the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico.
“We will talk about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, PASS and passport documentation and travel identification documents,” said Russ Veenema, executive director for the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
The local group representing Borders for Economic Security, Trade and Tourism, a coalition of U.S. and Canadian chambers of commerce, will include Port Angeles Mayor Karen Rogers, Victoria Express owner Jack Harmon and Wayne Barrett, general manager of Black Ball Transport Inc., which operates the MV Coho between Port Angeles and Victoria.
It also will include North Olympic Peninsula Visitor & Convention Bureau Executive Director Kristi Agren and Edna Petersen, owner of Necessities & Temptations, 217 N. Laurel St., located across Railroad Avenue from the MV Coho ferry landing.
Veenema said the schedule includes arriving in Washington, D.C., Sunday evening, followed by lunch Monday with legislative staff and then individual appointments with staffers.
The group has scheduled appointments with lawmakers for Tuesday, then follow-up by individual lobbyists on Wednesday, if possible.
The group will return Thursday.
“A lot of appointments still are being confirmed,” Veenema said.
“Our group will talk with Patty Murray and Norm Dicks, and we’re trying to confirm with Maria Cantwell.”
Murray and Cantwell are Washington’s U.S. senators while Dicks’ 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House includes Clallam and Jefferson counties.
