Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2017

Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, Wednesday, October 11, 2017, Thursday, October 12, 2017, Monday, October 23, 2017, Tuesday, October 24, 2017, and the first vote series on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, I was unable to vote on legislative measures due to a foot injury. Had I been present, I would have voted the following:

(Roll no. 558) On passage of H.R. 1858--To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4514 Williamson Trail in Liberty, Pennsylvania, as the ``Staff Sergeant Ryan Scott Ostrom Post Office'', had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 559) On passage of H.R. 2464--To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 25 New Chardon Street Lobby in Boston, Massachusetts, as the ``John Fitzgerald Kennedy Post Office'', had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 560) On ordering the previous question providing for consideration of S. 585--Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 561) On adoption of the rule providing for consideration of S. 585--Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 562) On passage of H.R. 452--To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 324 West Saint Louis Street in Pacific, Missouri, as the ``Specialist Jeffrey L. White, Jr. Post Office'', had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 563) On passage of H.R. 3243--FITARA Enhancement Act, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 564) On motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 2810--National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, had I been present I would have voted no.

(Roll no. 565) On motion to Close Portions of the Conference on H.R. 2810--National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 566) On passage of the House Amendment to Senate Amendment to H.R. 2266--Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 567) On motion to recommit with instructions to S. 585--Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection, had I been present I would have voted no.

(Roll no. 568) On passage of S. 585--Dr. Chris Kirkpatrick Whistleblower Protection, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 569) On passage of H.R. 3551--C-TPAT Reauthorization Act, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 570) On passage of S. 504--Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 571) On approval of the Journal, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 572) On ordering the previous question providing for consideration of H.R. 469--the Sunshine for Regulations and Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2017 and H.R. 732--the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 573) On adoption of the combined rule providing for consideration of H.R. 469--the Sunshine for Regulations and Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2017 and H.R. 732--the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 574) On passage of H.R. 2142--International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology (INTERDICT) Act, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 575) On agreeing to the amendment of Mr. Cohen of Tennessee Part B Amendment No. 2 to H.R. 732--Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act had I been present I would have voted no.

(Roll no. 576) On agreeing to the amendment of Mr. Johnson of Georgia Part B Amendment No. 3 to H.R. 732--Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act, had I been present I would have voted no.

(Roll no. 577) On agreeing to the amendment of Ms. Jackson Lee of Texas Part B Amendment No. 4 to H.R. 732--Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act, had I been present I would have voted no.

(Roll no. 578) On agreeing to the amendment of Mr. Cicilline of Rhode Island Part B Amendment No. 5 to H.R. 732--Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act, had I been present I would have voted no.

(Roll no. 579) On agreeing to the amendment of Mr. Conyers of Michigan Part B Amendment No. 6 to H.R. 732--Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act, had I been present I would have voted no.

(Roll no. 580) On passage of H.R. 732--Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 581) On passage of H.R. 3898--Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 582) On ordering the previous question providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to H. Con. Res. 71--establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 583) On adoption of the rule providing for consideration of H. Con. Res. 71--establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2018 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2019 through 2027, had I been present I would have voted yes.

(Roll no. 584) On approval of the Journal, had I been present I would have voted yes.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 504) to permanently authorize the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Program.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 504, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2017.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, has been an economic catalyst for the Asia-Pacific region since 1989. APEC facilitates increased trade and business cooperation among the 21 member countries in the region that promote innovation, inclusiveness, and sustainable growth.

Specifically, this bill reauthorizes the APEC Business Travel Card Program. The program began as a pilot in 2011, and this bill would implement best practices found throughout the 7-year pilot program.

The APEC Business Travel Card is a travel document issued to business travelers who are citizens of APEC-participating economies. Valid for 5 years, the card eliminates the need for its holders to possess a visa when visiting other APEC-participating economies as long as preclearance has been obtained through a trusted traveler application process.

Our partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region are more important now than ever before. The APEC Business Card champions free and open trade, promotes economic integration, enhanced border security, and facilitates a sustainable global business environment. The program also helps to enhance border integrity and security in participating economies by prechecking each applicant against watch lists of other participating economies.

The program offers cost savings to travelers and moves frequent travelers who have been prescreened through the international travel process more efficiently.

The APEC Card is currently set to expire on September 30, 2018. Now is the time to reauthorize this important partnership between the United States and our friends in the APEC region.

I would like to thank my colleagues Miss Rice and Mr. Donovan for introducing the House version of this bill, as well as Ms. Hirono and Mr. Daines in the Senate for their part in moving this legislation forward.

I urge Members to join me in supporting this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I once again urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding missed votes due to a funeral. Had I been present for roll call vote number 569, H.R. 3551 C-TPAT Reauthorization Act of 2017, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 570, S. 504 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2017, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 571, Approval of the Journal, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 572, Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 577--The combined rule providing for consideration of the bill H.R. 469--Sunshine for Regulations and Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2017 and of the bill H.R. 732--Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 573, Adoption of H. Res. 577--The combined rule providing for consideration of the bill H.R. 469--Sunshine for Regulations and Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2017 and of the bill H.R. 732--Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 574, H.R. 2142 INTERDICT Act, as amended, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 575, Cohen (D-TN) Amendment No. 2--Exempts settlement agreements based on race, religion, national origin, or any other protected category, I would have voted ``nay.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 576, Johnson (D-GA) Amendment No. 3--Exempts settlement agreements that direct funds to remediate the indirect harms caused by the manipulation of emissions standards in automobiles, I would have voted ``nay.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 577, Jackson Lee (D-TX)--Amendment No.4--Exempts settlement agreements that pertain to providing restitution to a State, I would have voted ``nay.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 578, Cicilline (D-RI)--Amendment No. 5-- Exempts settlements that resolve predatory or fraudulent conduct involving residential mortgage-backed securities, I would have voted ``nay.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 579, Conyers (D- MI)--Amendment No. 6--Exempts settlement agreements that direct funds to remedy indirect harm resulting from lead in drinking water, I would have voted ``nay.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 580, Passage of H.R. 732--Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2017, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for roll call vote number 581, Passage H.R. 3898 Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act, as amended, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of S. 504, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, Business Travel Cards Act of 2017.

Mr. Speaker, the APEC Business Travel Cards Act permanently reauthorizes the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card Program. This trusted-traveler program provides access to fast-track immigration lanes in airports for travelers who conduct verified business in the APEC region. APEC is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries, including the U.S. and Australia, to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection started issuing cards to eligible Americans in 2014 after Congress passed the APEC Business Travel Cards Act in 2011. Today, the program facilitates travel for Americans working on behalf of 30,000 U.S. businesses. Under that law, the authority to issue these travel cards to Americans is set to expire on September 30, 2018.

S. 504, the APEC Business Travel Cards Act of 2017, is supported by a diverse range of stakeholders, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce, the U.S. Council for International Business, the U.S. Travel Association, and the American Hotel and Lodging Association.

On the House Homeland Security Committee, companion legislation to S. 504 was championed by Congresswoman Kathleen Rice of New York. With the leadership of Miss Rice and others, her bill was passed unanimously by our committee.

Allowing ABT cards to expire would be a mistake that puts American businesses at a disadvantage. I urge my House colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.

Mr. Speaker, S. 504 is an important piece of legislation that has strong support on both sides of the aisle. The ABT Card Program allows business travelers and government officials with business in APEC countries to access fast-track processing lanes at APEC airports.

The program saves an estimated 43 minutes per trip, according to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, and operates entirely on user fees, costing taxpayers nothing. Importantly, it preserves authority for the Department of Homeland Security to revoke or suspend an individual's card for security reasons at any time.

This is a commonsense, bipartisan bill, and I encourage my colleagues to support S. 504 to ensure that the bill gets to the President's desk.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 504, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2017, which is identical to bipartisan legislation I introduced in the House earlier this year along with Representatives Dan Donovan, Rick Larsen and Dave Reichert.

This bill would permanently reauthorize the APEC Business Travel Card program, which provides access to fast-track immigration lanes at airports for travelers who conduct verified business in the APEC region.

The U.S. has been participating in this program and issuing cards to verified American business travelers since 2014, after Congress passed the APEC Business Travel Cards Act in 2011.

Under that law, the authority to issue these travel cards to Americans is set to expire on September 30, 2018--meaning that no new cards can be issued after that date, and all cards will expire by 2021, after which Americans will no longer be able to travel throughout the region as easily as business travelers from other APEC countries.

S. 504 will permanently extend that authority, while maintaining the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) authority to revoke or suspend an individual's card for security reasons at any time.

Mr. Speaker, this is a successful program that operates at absolutely no cost to taxpayers and makes American businesses more competitive in the global economy--including many businesses in my home state of New York, which is home to more than 2,300 cardholders.

Allowing these cards to expire would be a mistake that puts American business travelers at a disadvantage, and this legislation reflects a common-sense, bipartisan commitment to reauthorize the program permanently.

I'm grateful to my colleagues from both parties in the House and Senate for their efforts to help move this legislation forward, and I urge all our colleagues to give it their full support today so we can send this bill to the President's desk.