Protecting American Commerce and Travel Act of 2007

Bill: 110-hr-1061
Sponsor: Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-28]
Introduced: 2007-02-14 in the House
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Administrative fees
Administrative procedure
Admission of nonimmigrants
Armed Forces and National Security
Boundaries
Canada
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost effectiveness
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal justice information
Data banks
Department of Homeland Security
Driver licenses
Economic impact statements
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Elementary and secondary education
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Identification devices
Identification of criminals
Immigration
International Affairs
International cooperation
Labor and Employment
Latin America
Law
Mexico
Michigan
Minnesota
Montana
New York State
North Dakota
Passports
Right of privacy
Risk
Science, Technology, Communications
Secondary education
Security clearances
Security measures
Student activities
Students
Telephone
Terrorism
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation workers
Travel

Summary:
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: 
Protecting American Commerce and Travel Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to conduct a pilot program to determine if a state driver's license may be enhanced to satisfy requirements of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA) for land and sea travel only.
 
Amends IRTPA to direct the Secretary to establish a process to permit a U.S. citizen who does not possess a passport to reenter the United States at a U.S. land border. Provides that a U.S. citizen under 17 years shall not be required to present a passport when returning or traveling to the United States from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, or the Caribbean at specified ports of entry. Authorizes the Secretary to consider expanding the special rule for certain minors aged 17 or 18 traveling between the United States and Canada as part of an authorized, supervised school trip.
 
Directs the Secretary to issue to U.S. citizen applicants a passport card. Requires the card to be designed to provide a platform on which expedited traveler programs (such as NEXUS, NEXUS AIR, SENTRI, FAST, and Registered Traveler) can be added. 

Directs the Secretary of State and the Secretary to develop a public communications plan.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) merge the FAST and NEXUS programs; and (2) conduct a cost-benefit analysis regarding the use of identification cards. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-03-19
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law.
action_date: 2007-03-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism.
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: Referred to the Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2007-02-14
text: Introduced in House