If Congress gets its way, rule for passports would be delayed

Last update: December 17, 2007 - 7:34 PM

Congress is seeking to delay a new security rule requiring passports at all U.S. border crossings next year in hopes of avoiding a repeat of last summer's backlog of passport applications.

The Bush administration said Monday it opposed the move by Congress and still plans to go forward with the planned passport rule in the summer.

Lawmakers said that under a major spending bill to be voted on this week, the border passport rule would be moved back to no earlier than June 1, 2009.

The first phase went into effect earlier this year, requiring U.S. travelers returning by plane from Mexico, Canada and the Caribbean to carry a passport. That led to wait times for passports to 12 weeks -- as opposed to four to six weeks previously -- as the State Department struggled to meet demand for 18.4 million passports in fiscal year 2007, compared with 12.1 million in 2006.

Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., said the government should have more time to implement the law and "do it in a way that won't cause the same passport headaches we saw ... earlier this year."

ONE FOR TELECOM FIRMS

Telecommunications companies won a skirmish in the Senate as a bill to protect them from lawsuits for cooperating with the Bush administration's eavesdropping programs easily overcame a procedural hurdle.

By 76-10, with Democrats divided, the Senate voted to advance the bill for consideration. What happens next is not clear.

A different bill, which would not grant immunity to the companies, was also expected to be introduced. And the Senate version may have to be reconciled with a House version that does not include immunity. The measures are meant to renew the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expires in February.

NEWS SERVICES

Recent In Congress stories

Lawmakers call on Obama, Clinton to oppose UN report on alleged war crimes in Gaza - December 17, 2007

Lawmakers call on Obama, Clinton to oppose UN report on alleged war crimes in Gaza - The House on Tuesday condemned a U.N. report that accuses Israeli forces and Palestinian militants of war crimes in Gaza last winter as "irredeemably biased and unworthy of further consideration or legitimacy." More

Comment on this story | Be the first to comment | Hide reader comments

The Whistleblower blog has moved

The Star Tribune is still blowing the whistle, but our look and location have changed. Click here to get to the new blog. If you want the actual URL, it’s www.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower.html. Our blog posts will now be easier to search on the web site, but you’ll need to register to post a comment. In the [...]