Today, the House of Representatives is expected to pass Rep. Larsen’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 (H.R. 2042). The bill will help level the playing field for American business men and women traveling overseas. The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is designed to facilitate commerce by promoting fast and efficient travel for eligible business people and government officials within the APEC region. The travel card will allow members to use designated travel lanes in airports and get expedited visa processing to help make overseas business travel more efficient.
“After nearly three years of work, the House will take up and pass the APEC Business Travel Card Program today. The U.S. is one step closer to finally joining 18 other APEC economies that already have this full background check, expedited travel card for business people traveling between the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation economies. The U.S. will be one of the last to establish the travel card, but will be the largest economy.
“This travel card will equip our business leaders with the tools and resources they need to compete in the global marketplace,” said Rep. Larsen. “The APEC Business Travel Card will level the playing field for American business people traveling overseas and provide them with the same expedited travel benefits foreign travel card holders enjoy when they travel to the U.S.”
“This is a legacy bill that is another great example of Washington state continuing to be a state that looks west to the Asia-Pacific for our future”
The U.S. began participation in the APEC Business Travel Card program as a “transitional member” in 2007. American business travelers are unable to benefit from U.S. entry into the program even though the U.S. has been extending benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card to our foreign competitors and counterparts for almost two years. The bill is expected to pass the House of Representatives today.
