WASHINGTON The comprehensive immigration reform bill passed by the Senate last month contains a provision that would delay implementation of a requirement that all travelers entering or re-entering the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Central and South America must have a passport or other internationally accepted travel document.

The National Tour Association is commending the Senate "for taking this significant step of tremendous importance to the North American travel industry."

(See April 15, 2005 and Feb. 1, 2006 issues of Bus & Motorcoach News.)

NTA, the United Motorcoach Association and scores of other travel industry-related organizations are worried the proposed requirement, known as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, will curtail cross-border travel, including educational travel to and from Canada.

Currently, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative has an implementation date of Dec. 31, 2007, but an amendment in the Senate immigration bill would postpone implementation until June 1, 2009, "allowing time for a comprehensive public education campaign on cross-border travel requirements," says the NTA.

Additionally, the amendment authorizes the secretary of Homeland Security to waive documentary requirements for children traveling in groups of six or more to or from Canada, provided each child can demonstrate parental consent.

Also, fees established for the proposed "People Access Security Services" card, which would be accepted for cross-border travel, have been capped at $20 and would be waived for travelers age 18 and under.

Plus, the amendment establishes a 72-hour "day pass" for those not possessing a passport or a PASS card.

"This is a huge victory for the travel industry," said NTA President Hank Phillips. "These common-sense changes to (the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative) will help to maintain border integrity yet facilitate cross-border tourism. But the fight is not over. We have to keep working to ensure this amendment survives the conference committee."

The House immigration bill does not contain the proposed changes.

Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., and Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., developed the amendment adopted by the Senate. The NTA and others worked with two senators to craft key provisions of the amendment.