2004 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
U.S. BORDER AND TRADE

Staff Contact: Tom Minnick

Following is The Business Council's 2004 Legislative Program for U.S. Border and Trade. It identifies priority issues to be addressed by the Committees and Councils during 2004.

• Full and speedy implementation of the 30 point Canada -- U.S. "Smart Border Declaration", in order to establish and maintain a balance of physical and economic security along the entire New York State - Canada border.
  
  
• Adequate (24/7) staffing, interoperability, and cross designation by US and Canadian authorities at New York State - Canadian border crossings.
  
  
• No implementation of INS Section 110 or any equivalents, including expansion of documentation for U.S. and Canadian citizens, crossing the border.
  
  
• Full deployment of NEXUS at all commercial border crossings with adequate funding for effective marketing of the program on both sides of the border.
  
  
• Development and deployment of a pre-clearance system for cross border Amtrak and motorcoach passengers along the New York State-Canada border.
  
  
• Formal recognition of the Quebec-New York Corridor (I-87) as a "High Priority Corridor" by the federal government, along with full funding of the Champlain/Lacolle "Port of Excellence" project by 2006, and implementation of bilingual (English and French) signage along I-87 in NYS.
  
  
• Full recognition of Continental 1 as a strategic trade corridor between the U.S. and Canada.
  
  
• Expanded funding authority for border and corridor programs as part of the reauthorization of TEA-21, including limiting eligibility for border related funding to actual sates bordering Canada or Mexico.
  
  
• Continued commitment by the New York State government to regular and substantive summits with the governments of Quebec and Ontario, with full private sector partnership. This should include an even deeper commitment to collaboration with Quebec and Ontario in the fields of transportation, technology sectors, economic development, tourism, sports, energy and security.