PORT ANGELES — An economic impact study might be conducted on impending travel identification requirements for U.S. citizens following last week’s 40-person lobbying trip to Washington, D.C.
“There’s interest from both [political] parties because they see this is a train heading down the tracks,” said Russ Veenema, executive director of the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
“This will buy us some time.
“We painted a picture of economic hardship across both northern and southern borders.”
Members of the lobbying group argued that the trade issue goes beyond just the border states, affecting the entire country, Veenema said.
He said Congressional representatives and their staff agreed the increased identification requirements were not well thought out.
A coalition of U.S. and Canadian chambers of commerce, calling itself Borders for Economic Security, Trade and Tourism, is lobbying against impending requirements that would force everyone returning on a ferry from Victoria to carry a passport to re-enter the United States.
The coalition is opposing requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative that was approved by Congress in 2004 as part of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act.
Beginning Dec. 31, air and sea travelers, including U.S. citizens, will need a passport or other secure document to enter or re-enter the United States.
Currently, a driver’s license or birth certificate is sufficient documentation for U.S. citizens.
Beginning Dec. 31, 2007, the more stringent passport requirement will be extended to land border crossings.
The 80-member coalition sent 40 people from seven states and three Canadian provinces, including eight representatives from Clallam County, to Washington, D.C., last week to argue against the requirements.
The group included Veenema; Port Angeles Mayor Karen Rogers; Victoria Express owner Jack Harmon; Necessities and Temptations owner Edna Petersen; Kristi Agren, North Olympic Peninsula Visitor and Convention Bureau tourism and marketing director; and Wayne Barrett, general manager of Black Ball Transport Inc., which owns the MV Coho.
