WASHINGTON -- The Travel Industry Association praised Congress for
passing a Homeland Security bill that would create a cabinet-level
department to prevent terrorism in the U.S., but urged lawmakers to
balance the need for national security along with the economic
value of inbound tourism.
"Congress and the [Bush] administration must ensure the quest
for a more secure homeland does not come at the price of
discouraging legitimate international travel into the U.S.," said
William Norman, TIA's president and CEO in a statement.
On Nov. 19, Congress passed the Homeland bill (H.R. 5005).
Born in the wake of last year's terrorist attacks, the bill
calls for the creation of a new Homeland Security Department that
would encompass certain operations from 22 federal agencies
including some Immigration and Naturalization Service and U.S.
Customs functions.
As a result, the Homeland Security Department would be
responsible for policies regarding issuance of nonimmigrant visitor
visas overseas.
TIA noted that there already are long delays involved in visa
issuance, which have had a negative impact on international travel
to the U.S. TIA previously reported that overseas arrivals have
been down by as much as 17% so far this year.
"Securing our borders and facilitating travel must go
hand-in-hand as our nation continues to combat terrorism," Norman
said. "Both national security and economic security must continue
to be national priorities."
The Homeland Security bill, which President Bush is expected to
sign, also allows for the extension of war risk insurance airline
carriers receive from the Transportation Department.
It also calls for the DOT to conduct a study to evaluate the
"benefits and risks" of providing flight attendants with nonlethal
weapons. The DOT also is permitted to establish a program to
deputize certain qualified pilots as federal law enforcement
officers.
In addition, the DOT is required to study the number of armed
federal law enforcement officers, other than federal air marshals,
who travel on commercial airliners annually and to determine the
cost of providing them with aircraft antiterrorism training.