By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Unites States Senator Charles Schumer said Thursday that requiring a passport to cross the international borders would hurt just about every aspect of life in Buffalo. Schumer was in Buffalo to announce his proposed legislation that calls for derailing the passport rule.
Schumer said if passports are required to travel over our area border crossings it would have a devestating effect on the Buffalo Niagara economy.
The Senator said the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is using a loophole in the law to put the passport rule in place as early as next January, instead of the June 2009-deadline.
He said his legislation calls on Homeland Security to conduct economic impact studies on each state with international borders, as well as the entire U.S. side of the border.
Schumer said his proposed legislation would require an enhanced driver's license instead of a passport.
Schumer said the requirement would hurt just about every aspect of life in Buffalo from sporting to cultural and tourism events. Schumer pitched his plan at HSBC Arena.
He was joined by several area leaders representing the Sabres, Buffalo Bills, the Buffalo and Erie County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and cultural venues.
Sabres managing partner Larry Quinn said they rely on Canadian hockey fans to come to HSBC and spend money.
Quinn said Canadian hockey fans already encounter delays getting caught in Peace Bridge traffic. Schumer said only about 7-percent of Americans and just 9-percent of Canadians have passports.
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