Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted for a final Department of Homeland Security spending bill that passed the House by a vote of 412 to 6.  The bill authorizes funds for additional border patrol personnel and includes language to delay new passport documentation requirements at the U.S.-Canada border.

“In the 2nd Congressional District border security is backyard security.  While these Homeland Security funds will continue our effort to put additional man power along our northern border, there is still much work to be done,” said Larsen.

The final version of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (H.R. 5441) includes $34.8 billion for border security, immigration enforcement and related activities.  Specifically, the bill funds $2.3 billion for Customs and Border Protection, adding 1,500 new Border Patrol personnel to our borders. 

“To create strong border security Congress must put real assets and well-trained professional border agents along our borders.  I will work to ensure the appropriate number of these border patrol agents get placed at our northern border.”

In addition, the legislation included language to delay a requirement for people traveling to and from foreign countries to present passports or other valid documentation prior to entering the country.  This requirement would significantly impact U.S-Canadian Border crossings – as Canada was previously exempt from passport documentation requirements.  The language extends the proposed deadline from January 1, 2008 to June 1, 2009, or three months after the Homeland Security Department and State Department certify that certain implementation criteria have been met. 

“The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department are not ready to implement new border security requirements along our Northern Border,” said Larsen.

“These travel restrictions could drastically hurt Washington state commerce and significantly impede the economic benefits our state hopes to gain from the 2010 Olympic Games.  This extension is necessary to allow the Federal Government to get this right.  As we work to implement strong border security we also need to implement new restrictions in a way that considers trade and commerce,” he concluded.

Larsen is a member of the Northern Border Caucus and a co-chair of the 2010 Olympics Task Force for Washington state.

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