WASHINGTON The federal governments antiterrorism, cross-border travel rules came slightly unraveled earlier this month when the State Department was forced to suspend the requirement that U.S. residents flying to and from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean have a passport.

The government took the action because a huge backlog of passport applications -- fostered by the new rules had upended the travel plans of thousands of Americans.

In the past, U.S. passports could generally be obtained in six weeks or so. In recent months, however, that time has more than doubled and in some cases it has stretched far longer.

Between now and Sept. 30, U.S. citizens will be able to fly to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean if they can show a receipt verifying they have applied for a passport, plus they will be subject to extra scrutiny at airports.

Some in the travel and tourism see the backlog created by the air travel requirement as a small fraction of what will occur when citizens are required starting Jan 1 -- to show passports or other documents to travel by land and sea across U.S. borders.

Its that possibility and the general concept that more rigorous security measures have become a major impediment to cross-border tourism that has prompted the National Tour Association and other travel organizations to seek support for efforts to delay implementation of the rules that go into effect Jan. 1.

The NTA is asking travel professionals to contact their U.S. senators about co-sponsoring the Western Hemisphere Traveler Improvement Act, which would modify the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative that requires a passport or similar document for anyone crossing the U.S.-Canadian border by bus, auto or truck starting in January.

Introduced by Sens. Norm Coleman, R-Minnesota, and Susan Collins,

R-Maine, the legislation aims to not only delay the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative by at least a year but proposes other changes aimed at making cross-border travel less restrictive.

Lawmakers, like Coleman and Collins, from states along the northern border have been trying for months to stall or alter the plan to require more secure border-crossing identification documents, contending the rules will hurt trade and tourism.

A law adopt by Congress three years ago led to the creation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative to tighten security on both the Canadian and Mexican borders, but many members are now fuming at the notion their constituents will need a $97 passport or a not-yet-developed passcard, expected to cost around $50. Children would be exempt.

Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer has predicted the government won't be able to start in January, but Department of Homeland Security officials insist they will.

'We have a firm deadline and we're absolutely committed to moving forward with the implementation of western hemisphere travel requirements at our northern border,' a Department of Homeland Security told a news service late last month.

'The National Tour Association supports provisions that allow for a smoother implementation of the passport mandate and help to minimize

cross-border travel disruptions,' said NTA Legislative Counsel Jim

Santini.

'These reasonable modifications to WHTI will help to maintain border integrity and facilitate cross-border tourism. Members of the travel industry must act now by contacting their U.S. senators and ask they co-sponsor the Western Hemisphere Traveler Improvement Act (S. 1348).'

The proposed legislation requires sufficient staffing by the U.S. State Department to meet increasing passport demand, an analysis of a pilot program that explores enhanced driver's licenses as documentation for cross-border travel, and a full cost-benefit analysis of WHTI.

Additional criteria include the designation of at least six permanent locations near the border where passport applications can be accepted without the processing fee. For smaller and rural communities, it requires mobile free enrollment centers.

'NTA has been concerned that a hasty implementation of the Western

Hemisphere Travel Initiative would serve as an unnecessary and avoidable impediment to cross-border travel,' said NTA Chairman and CEO Randy

Julian.