Sens. Collins, Sununu are strong advocates

Foster's Daily Democrat - While much of the nation is focused on presidential primary politics, the work of some members of the Maine and New Hampshire congressional delegations should not go unnoticed.Of special note last week was the successful effort led by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, to delay implementation of onerous border-crossing requirements.

Collins, with the help of delegations from other border states, was instrumental in delaying the next phase of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative until June 2009. Meanwhile Sen. John Sununu, R-N.H., continued across-the-aisle efforts to challenge costly and invasive rules also generated under the REAL ID Act.

Effective as of Jan. 31 last year, air travelers were required to have passports to return to the U.S. after flying to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. Previously, only a driver's license was needed. On Jan. 31 of this year, passports were also to be required to cross into those areas by land or sea.

Now, thanks to the effort led by Collins, travelers will only need a driver's license and birth certificate come Jan. 31.

The delay, said Collins, was needed to give the government more time to perfect its border-crossing technology. Collins' goal is to give the government more time to provide a less costly alternative, while providing the necessary level of national security.

Collins is supporting a passport card which will cut at least in half the cost now associated with securing a passport, a move seen essential to maintaining the travel and tourism economy so critical to Maine and New Hampshire...read more >>