Secure travel program | 06.02.2006 | 08:09:03 | Views: 5003 | ID: June 2 '06: A new report released by the Government Accountability Office last week found that many government agencies will not be able to meet federally mandated regulations surrounding the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, Government Computer News reported Thursday. GCN found in the report that "there are no simples solutions or alternatives to providing quick and secure access at US land border ports," and that GAO "urged the agencies to expedite their decision-making process if they are to meet Congress' January 2008 deadline." The travel program was created to under the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, mandated by the Department of Homeland Security and Congress. The goal of the legislation was to "develop and implement a plant to require US citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport, or other secure document when entering the United States," to help with travel security. In order to push the plan into place so that it becomes an effective program, the GAO found five areas for improvement: an agreement on the required travel documents; having the documents compliant with safety and security regulations; an expedited rule-making process; having the cost-benefits of the program weighed against the practices; and effectively managing the program. GCN reported that the countries effected by the legislation include the US, Mexico, Canada, Bermuda as well as mandatory "forms of identification when entering the US from North and South America."
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