NBTA Government Affairs

1
NBTA Government Affairs

• Chicago BTA
• March 18, 2009
• C. Stewart Verdery, Monument Policy Group
• NBTA Government Affairs Consultant

2
Overview

• Obama Administration Agenda
• Obama Administration Transition
• Travel Regulation
• NBTA 2008 Government Affairs Scorecard and 2009
  Agenda
• Other Issues Worth Watching
• How to Get Involved
• Questions and Answers

3
Obama Administration Agenda

• Economy
• Stimulus Legislation
• Housing Stabilization
• Financial Bailout and the TARP
• Long-Term Budget and Tax Proposals
• Health Care
• Labor
• Foreign Policy

4
Obama Administration Transition

• Nominees
• Department of Homeland Security
• Secretary Janet Napolitano
• TSA, Customs and Border Protection TBA
• Department of Transportation
• Secretary Ray LaHood
• FAA, other modal offices TBA
• Department of State
• Secretary Hillary Clinton
• Department of Commerce
• Gary Locke nominated for Secretary

5
Travel Regulation

• Backlash versus Executive Compensation and
  Spending by Banks Receiving Federal Assistance
• Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) inserted
  provision in Stimulus bill
• Treasury Department to define excessive and
  luxury expenditures
• The timing for the required rule-making is unclear

6
Travel Regulation II

• Senators Kerry and Feinstein and Reps. Cummings
  and Maloney have also introduced legislation
• Over 8,000 letters sent to the Administration and
  Congress by NBTA members
• http//capwiz.com/nbta/issues/alert/?alertid12773
  376
• U.S. Travel Association, NBTA, and other travel
  organization launched Meetings Mean Business
  campaign on March 4
• www.meetingsmeanbusiness.com

7
2008 Government Scorecardand 2009 Agenda

• OVERALL GRADE FOR CONGRESS AND THE BUSH
  ADMINISTRATION C
• International Facilitation B
• The government continued to improve how it
  attracts and welcomes international visitors to
  help recover from post 9/11 declines but must
  show increased efforts to facilitate low-risk
  business travelers.
• Domestic Facilitation C-
• The economic slowdown relieved pressure on an
  antiquated domestic aviation system, but Congress
  was unable to pass legislation to fund and deploy
  next generation aviation equipment.
• Economy and Taxes D
• Congress failed to address the growing trend of
  using travel taxes to fund other parts of
  government, was unable to enact comprehensive
  energy legislation, and enacted a financial
  services rescue bill that has thus far failed to
  jumpstart the economy.

8
Domestic Facilitation I

• Federal Aviation Administration Funding D-
• 2009 NBTA recommendation Congress should enact
  FAA reauthorization and speed deployment of the
  Next Generation Air Transportation System
  (NextGen)
• House is on track to pass FAA Reauthorization
  Bill
• Senate is considering another extension 6
  months
• NBTA pushed for NextGen money in the Stimulus
• FAA nominee?

9
Domestic Facilitation II

• Airline Performance Aviation Congestion C
• 2009 NBTA recommendation FAA should drop
  congestion pricing plan, focus on airline
  disclosure rather than micromanaging customer
  service and provide compensation for flights
  delayed by weather or mechanical problems
• DOT Secretary LaHood opposes slot auctions --
  NBTA had opposed NYC slot auction as adding fees
  on consumers
• Passenger Rights legislation included in House
  FAA Reauthorization Bill

10
Domestic Facilitation III

• Domestic Registered Traveler (RT) C
• RT offered at 21 airports enrollment over
  250,000
• 2009 Recommendation Reinstate security threat
  assessment, expand RT to additional airports, and
  integrate with international trusted traveler
  programs
• http//www.tsa.dhs.gov/approach/rt/index.shtm

11
Domestic Facilitation IV

• Terrorist Watch Lists and Redress C
• 2009 Recommendation Congress should pass redress
  legislation implement Secure Flight
• FAST Redress Act
• Passed the House in 2008 but stalled in the
  Senate
• House passed the bill in February 2009
• Secure Flight
• Will require full legal name, gender, and date of
  birth from carriers who will in turn require for
  reservations
• Should decrease watch list false positives

12
Domestic Facilitation V

• Traveler Taxes D
• Rental Car taxes
• NBTA has continued to fight increases at the
  state level
• Federal legislation to end discriminatory rental
  car taxes failed to gain traction
• Non-Refundable Airline Ticket Tax Refunds
• Government Accountability Office study request
• Southwest settlement led to change to their
  contract of carriage
• British Airways first carrier offering refunds of
  fees and taxes

13
International Facilitation

• Visa Waiver Program B
• 8 countries added in 2008
• Further expansion requires US-VISIT Exit
• Exit pilots scheduled for 2009
• Major fights looming in Congress on need for
  biometric exit program and who is responsible
• Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
• Requires VWP travelers to apply online before
  traveling to US
• ESTA is good for 2 years after approval and is
  currently free
• Requirement in place as of January 13, 2009 but
  mandatory enforcement delayed until summer of
  2009
• NBTA supports enforcement flexibility and airport
  enrollment options

14
International Facilitation II

• International Registered Traveler A-
• NBTA supported the creation and funding of the
  Global Entry Program
• Customs and Border Protection (CBP) mobile
  enrollment first used at NBTA Committee Summit
• Global Entry currently at 7 airports
• Atlanta, Chicago, JFK, LAX, Houston, Miami,
  Washington Dulles
• Expansion to 13 additional airports in 2009
• Approved applicants skip immigration processing
• www.globalentry.gov
• 2009 Recommendation Customs and Border
  Protection should develop unified enrollment and
  marketing mechanisms for trusted traveler programs

15
International Facilitation III

• Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative B
• June 1, 2009 WHTI compliant documents will be
  required
• CBP is working on a 12 million advertising
  campaign via TV, print, and online
  advertisements www.getyouhome.gov
• State Department http//travel.state.gov/travel/c
  bpmc/cbpmc_2223.html
• Model Ports of Entry D
• Improve entry experience of U.S. and
  international travelers
• 40 million for the program in FY09, mostly for
  additional inspectors but slow deployment of
  equipment

16
2009 Agenda New Issues

• Energy and Climate Change
• NBTA supports comprehensive energy legislation to
  increase energy supplies, conservation, and tax
  incentives
• Crack down on oil speculation
• Transportation Infrastructure
• Investment in high speed rail, intermodal
  connections, and compensation for security costs
• Stimulus contained billions for infrastructure

17
How to Get Involved

• NBTA Chapter Challenge new in 2009
• Policy engagement included
• PAC donations still needed
• Legislative Summit June 16-17, 2009
• http//www2.nbta.org/usa/Events/Pages/LegislativeS
  ummit.aspx
• Feedback to Congress and to NBTA

18
Questions or Comments?

• C. Stewart Verdery, Jr.
• Partner and Founder, Monument Policy Group and
  NBTA Government Affairs Consultant
• stewart_at_monumentpolicy.com
• www.monumentpolicy.com
• [phone]