BILL REQ. #:  H-4394.1 

Read first time 01/24/2006.   Referred to Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, The United States and Canada have the largest trading relationship of any two countries in the world; and
     WHEREAS, Approximately one billion eight million dollars in two-way trade crosses the Canadian-United States border on a daily basis; and
     WHEREAS, There are approximately thirty-five million visits by Canadians to the United States, with an impact of eleven billion dollars on the economy of the United States, each year; and
     WHEREAS, One in three jobs in Washington are dependent on international trade; and
     WHEREAS, Washington exported over four billion dollars in goods to Canada in 2004; and
     WHEREAS, The hosting of the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games by Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada will bring millions of tourists to the region, with many of them visiting Washington as well; and
     WHEREAS, The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and its passport requirements for persons entering the United States is scheduled to begin December 31, 2006; and
     WHEREAS, Many residents of the United States and Canada are not fully aware of the requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative; and
     WHEREAS, Many families cannot afford the costs of obtaining passports for all its members; and
     WHEREAS, The United States Real-ID Drivers' License Act has similar provisions to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, but does not take effect until January 2009;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the passport requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative be delayed until January 1, 2009.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of the State.