TO THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA, 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:

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 2015 Agreement on Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance was signed by the United States and Canada as part of the Beyond the Border Action Plan and reaffirmed the joint commitment between the United States and Canada to enhance security while facilitating lawful travel and trade; and

WHEREAS, The preclearance agreement gives United States Customs and Border Protection and Canada Border Services Agency officials the authority to conduct border security and inspections in the other country prior to departure; and

WHEREAS, Making cross-border transit more efficient for business travel, tour operators, and independent leisure travelers, when the preclearance agreement is implemented, will greatly enhance competitiveness of the Pacific Northwest's fifty-five billion dollar regional travel and tourism sector; and

WHEREAS, As business and leisure travel itineraries become increasingly multimodal and the demand for Two Nation Vacations grows in the Pacific Rim market, efficient execution of the preclearance agreement will be a positive signal to the investment and business climate in Washington State and British Columbia;

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress expedite a bill presently in Congress that gives the United States extraterritorial jurisdiction over preclearance officers in Canada in order to implement the 2015 Agreement on Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance.

BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Barack Obama, 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.

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