WASHINGTON -- The Bush Administration's $2.2 trillion federal
budget proposal for 2004 is heavily weighted toward military
spending and homeland defense, but it does take a step toward
addressing one of the travel industry's major concerns: creating a
uniform border security system.
The budget would make available $373 million to expand
exit/entry systems to secure U.S. borders and keep better track of
visitors.
The funding is included in the $41 billion the Bush
Administration is requesting for the fledgling Homeland Security
Department.
Once the department is up and running, it will take on certain
Immigration and Naturalization Services and Customs Department
functions.
That could result, according to the Travel Industry Association,
in a level of uniformity with regard to inspections and other
procedures that sometime confuse and frustrate foreign
visitors.
Additionally, Homeland Security secretary Tom Ridge recently
proposed that border officials wear one type of uniform, further
creating an image of consistency.
"It is a positive step forward," said Richard Webster, TIA's
director of government affairs. Webster is a member a special task
force of travel industry and government officials that has been
exploring ways of enhancing border security without hindering
inbound travel.
"Having observed inspections done at land borders by both
customs and INS, they were very different approaches. There wasn't
consistency," Webster said. "I think it is better for the traveling
public, both returning Americans and inbound international
visitors, that they see one uniform and a consistent procedure
across all different ports of entry."
Similarly, the new Transportation Security Administration, which
also falls under the Homeland Security umbrella, would receive $4.8
billion to continue its efforts to improve airport and airplane
security.
Amtrak would receive $900 million; up from the $521 million the
Administration recommended in 2003, but below the $1.8 billion
Amtrak is expected to request from Congress.
The administrated noted that Amtrak received $24 billion in
federal aid over the past 31 years but has yet to turn a
profit.
The government "simply cannot afford business as usual at
Amtrak," said Michael Jackson, the Transportation Department's
deputy secretary during a press conference at DOT headquarters.
Jackson said the Bush Administration would like to spur a debate
over what Amtrak's future should be.
Meanwhile, Congress is still sorting out Amtrak's appropriation
for 2003.
The Senate agreed to $1.2 billion, the amount requested by
Amtrak, while the House has recommended $762 million.
Amtrak said, "There can be no meaningful discussion of reform or
the 2004 budget until the FY 2003 budget has been approved."
The budget also includes $54.3 billion for the DOT, up from the
$52.3 billion requested in the 2003 budget.
Jim Santini, a Washington representative for the National Tour
Association, said highway funding was "extremely important to our
tour operators...we want to ensure transportation receives its fair
share of the 2004 budget."
Santini also praised the Bush Administration's recommendations
to earmark $1.08 billion to help the National Parks complete
repairs.
But the National Parks Conservation Association, a Washington,
D.C.-based advocacy group, was less impressed.
"The limited funding increases provided in the administration's
2004 budget do not help to meet the administration's stated
national parks goals," said Tom Kiernan, the group's president.
Kiernan noted Bush had previous pledged $4.9 billion over five
years to the parks.
The park funding proposal, Kiernan said, "falls well short" of
the park system's needs.