Bill Would Require Studies Of Border Wait Times

WASHINGTON (AP) – Some Texans in Washington are backing legislation requiring studies of wait times at border entry sites and their impact on business.

The bill introduced today requires the Transportation and Commerce departments, with help from Homeland Security, to study wait times and any negative economic impact.

Stepped-up inspections this year on the U.S. and Canada borders have led to lines nearly as long as they were after the 2001 terrorist attacks. The bill is authored by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and San Antonio Congressman Ciro Rodriguez.

Co-sponsors include Congressmen Silvestre Reyes of El Paso and Solomon Ortiz of Corpus Christi. All voted for the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 that mandated the additional identification requirements.

— Beginning January 31st, U.S. and Canadian citizens must show government-issued photo IDs and proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate.

— Oral declarations of citizenship will no longer be accepted.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)