The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday, following a Senate committee endorsing a similar measure (so that whole body likely will follow), overwhelmingly (379-45) approved a 17-month delay in mandating U.S. citizens showing their passports when flying back from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. (“Congress passports” as key words for your news search will focus faster than “boneheads at it again.”)
It’s a security measure, proposed shortly after the 9/11/01 terror attacks. It’s in stages; passports were to next be required in ground and water travel. All security experts back this, George the Second endorses it and logic requires it, too.
But Congress heard complaints. This is the same Congress that by a great majority passed the USA PATRIOT Act, which curtails the freedoms and rights of all Americans, including some guaranteed in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Few legal battles against it have yet reached the Supreme Court. By smaller yet decisive majorities, both houses since have renewed this package of restrictions. Well, the CIA and FBI are not restricted; they’re encouraged even in cases that have nothing to do with terrorism.
This is the same Congress that in the recent weeks reviewed a compromise in immigration legislation, backed both by the president and, well, Ted Kennedy. And this Congress tabled it, due to outcry by extremists of both parties. Who could be to the right of Bush and left of Kennedy? Enough, apparently.
Only travelers are irritated by the passport tightening. Because this measure has been six years in the making, we who are lucky enough to travel, or hope we might travel, have had time. In fact, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has been publicizing this for a good year.
My Beloved and I took heed. Early in 2006, I headed to the Fayetteville Post Office on Dickson Street with my long-expired passport, and took care of it. Late in the year, M.B. renewed hers. It was to expire in 2007, but all the info was about how busy and backed up the system would be this year. We plan no foreign travel until 2008 maybe, but a valid passport’s good for 10 years.
And lo, it came to pass. Port.
Business and pleasure travelers have the means to not be idiots. Sure, there are hardship cases and emergencies, but the State Department, which handles passports, has a rush-priority system. It’s complicated and expensive, but it exists. Or, whine to your congressman.
By extending the no-passport needed to fly in from nearby allied countries, we continue to keep wide a gap by which terrorists can waltz right in. Congress in the Patriot Act indicates it doesn’t like terrorists, or citizens joking into their cell phones. Congress by rejecting a leadership-endorsed illegal alien bill that both restricts immigration and allows a needed work force to continue, indicates fear of its own fringes.
In 2006 we should’ve thrown out all the incumbents. We dumped a number, but next in November 2008, let’s remove the rest. If a name on your ballot already is preceded by “Rep.” or “Sen.” vote for another. Here’s another idea: Get a valid passport by the non-rush method. It’s not expensive that way. You may want it by the time it arrives. -30-
