From the Niagara Falls Review:
A U.S. Senate vote to delay the so-called passport requirement many fear will hurt tourism is a victory for Niagara because it buys some time, says Mayor Ted Salci.
“We’re excited. It’s exactly what we want,†Salci said Thursday, reacting to the news.
American Senators voted Wednesday to change the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative’s implementation date to June 1, 2009. It’s the new rule that will require everyone including Americans entering the U.S. at a land border to show a passport or some other new document that indicates the holders’ identity and citizenship.
The security measure, which had been recommended by the 9/11 commission, was to come into effect Jan. 1, 2008.
“Hopefully, this will give them some breathing room to look at proper implementation,†said Salci. “We thought it was very much done in haste.â€