Delay Sought for Border Passport Implementation

Texas Democrat Rubén Hinojosa and several other members of Congress today sent a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert urging the House leadership to delay at least until summer 2009 implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which would require U.S. citizens carry passports to re-enter the country after traveling to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean (excluding Puerto Rico).
Hinojosa says a recent GAO report finds that the Department of Homeland Security, which would be responsible for implementing the program, has not fully examined the economic impact on border business
The congressman additionally wants the department to spend more time considering alternative documents, citing the negative impact the high cost of passports would have on those least able to afford it, and what he says is the minimal impact the passport program would have on border security.

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