Business Travel Association Praises DHS-State Joint Vision for Travel and Border Security; NBTA Labels Components of the Plan ''Victories for the Travel Industry''.

WASHINGTON -- The National Business Travel Association (NBTA), the leading association for corporate travel managers and suppliers, applauded Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for the vision they outlined today for the future of the United States' travel security efforts.

NBTA highlighted the following elements of the State-DHS announcement:

--Advisory Board: The Departments will work with an advisory board to facilitate outreach with the travel industry and the business community to gather input on travel policies, travel facilitation and travel security programs.

--One-Stop Redress: DHS and State will develop a one-stop redress solution for travelers who are incorrectly identified by any government travel security program.

--Joint application data access: State and DHS will create a "Global Enrollment Network" that will enable travel document application data to be shared between the agencies, so that applicants' data will only need to be captured one time.

NBTA President and CEO, Suzanne Fletcher, said, "Secretaries Chertoff and Rice are to be congratulated for looking at the big picture of the impact of the multitude of travel and border security programs on travel and the conduct of international commerce. NBTA has repeatedly called for an advisory board to work with government agencies whose programs impact the travel experience, particularly with regard to security, and we are gratified that call has been heard. NBTA has also lobbied for better redress processes and sharing of data between agencies to create a simpler process for travelers. The one-stop redress solution and the 'Global Enrollment Network' will meet those needs on behalf of business travelers."

NBTA also praised the following elements of the DHS-State plan:

--Introduction of "an inexpensive, secure, biometric passport card as an alternative to a traditional passport book for use by U.S. citizens in border communities who frequently cross our land borders."

--Development of an expedited, Registered Traveler-type screening process for frequent travelers at all U.S. ports of entry.

--Improvement of business visa applications processing through pilot programs testing online visa applications and appointment requests, as well as videoconferenceing for visa interviews

--Standardization of screening criteria across government agencies by the end of 2006 to create consistency at all screening points

Fletcher added, "The Departments of Homeland Security and State are working together to improve the nation's border and travel security programs. Many elements of this plan are clear victories for the travel industry and for business; they will benefit business travelers and their companies by streamlining their interactions with these security programs."

NBTA will continue to work with DHS and State, as well as with elected officials, to ensure that all travel and border security initiatives respect traveler privacy and avoid undue burdens on business.

The National Business Travel Association is the source for critical information on the business travel industry. For more than 35 years, NBTA has dedicated itself to the professional development of its members through advocacy, education and training, and networking opportunities. NBTA represents over 2,500 corporate and government travel managers and travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than $170 billion of expenditures within the business travel industry. For more on NBTA, visit www.nbta.org.