Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011
Floor Speech
Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2042, the APEC Business Travel Card bill. This bill is bipartisan, and it levels the playing field for U.S. businessmen and -women who export their products into other APEC economies.
Since joining the APEC Business Travel Card program as a transitional member in 2007, the U.S. has been extending the benefits of having an APEC Business Travel Card to foreign businessmen and -women in 18 other economies but not to our own. These benefits include being permitted to use the ``crew'' or designated ``APEC Business Travel Card'' lanes in airports when entering a country as well as having expedited visa processing. As of October 12, 2011, there were over 100,000 foreign ABTC holders--but no Americans.
Today's legislation simply levels the playing field by directing the Department of Homeland Security to establish an APEC Business Travel Card that will allow Americans to use the card to gain expedited entry into participating APEC economies when they go abroad and use Customs and Border Protection's, or CBP's, Global Entry program for expedited reentry back into the United States. This will make travel throughout the Asia-Pacific region easier for American businessmen and -women and will help them to more efficiently sell their products overseas.
I want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady), for his hard work on this bill as well as fellow APEC Caucus cochairs, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Herger), for their support as well.
The future of the United States is tied to the Asia-Pacific region. With the hosting of the APEC summit by the United States in less than a month, it is important that the APEC Business Travel Card program is established. I urge my colleagues to support this bill as well.
In conclusion, I want to thank the leadership of this House for working with me and the gentleman from Texas to get this bill scheduled for House consideration.
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