Passports Required for Air Travel to United States
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), January 21, 2007 - Citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda will be required to present a passport to enter the United States when arriving by air from any part of the Western Hemisphere, beginning January 23, 2007.
This change in travel document requirements is the result of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, which Congress subsequently passed into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. These new travel document requirements make up the Departments' Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). In order to obtain national security benefits as quickly as possible, and to expedite the processing of arriving passengers, the plan will be implemented in two phases.
The first phase involves travel by air and requires all citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer's identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States from within the Western Hemisphere. The final rule for the air phase of the WHTI rule will be published in the Federal Register on November 24, where it can be viewed at www.regulations.gov . That rule is also available on the Department's consular web site, travel.state.gov and on the Department of Homeland Security's web site, www.dhs.gov.
A separate proposed rule addressing land and sea travel will be published at a later date proposing specific requirements for travelers entering the United States through land and sea border crossings.
As early as January 1, 2008, U.S. citizens traveling between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea could be required to present a valid U.S. passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. While recent legislative changes permit a later deadline, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are working to meet all requirements as soon as possible.
The Department has dedicated additional resources and personnel to meet the increased demand for passports generated by these requirements. In Fiscal Year 2006, the Department issued a record 12.1 million passports to American citizens, and anticipates issuing 16 million passports in Fiscal Year 2007. U.S. citizens can find information about how to apply for a passport at travel.state.gov or by calling 1-877-487-2778.
U.S. Wine, Grapes and Grape Products Contribute $162 Billion to Economy
ST. LOUIS, (PRNewswire), January 21, 2007 - The United States wine, grape and grape products industries contribute more than $162 billion annually to the American economy, according to a comprehensive study by MKF Research LLC of Napa Valley unveiled on Capitol Hill by the Congressional Wine Caucus on January 17. The Congressional Wine Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of U.S. Representatives and Senators with an interest in the grape and wine industry, and currently includes 182 members.
The comprehensive study, titled "The Impact of Wine, Grapes and Grape Products on the American Economy: Family Businesses Building Value," measures the full economic impact of the grape, wine, grape juice, table grape and raisin industries in terms of employment, agricultural statistics, product revenues, taxes, and many other indices. Included in the study are impacts from the grape, wine, grape juice, table grape and raisin industries, the first time all grape products have been measured in the same study.
"This landmark study confirms what we have known intuitively for a long time," said Congressman Mike Thompson of St. Helena, CA, co-chair of the Congressional Wine Caucus. "Grapes, wine, and other grape products are truly an economic catalyst with tremendous growth potential in all 50 states. Policymakers can maximize these economic benefits by supporting legislation that enhances the wine and grape-product industry. Our support will ensure that this all-American industry continues to produce superior products and provide a strong contribution to our economy."
Among the key findings:
-- Employment: 1.1 million full-time equivalent jobs
-- Agriculture: 23,856 grape growers, 934,750 grape bearing acres,
$3.5 billion in farm gate grape sales
-- Wine Industry Direct Impact: 4,929 wineries in 2005, up from 2,904 in
2000, a 70% increase in five years; wineries now in all 50 states;
$11.4 billion in winery sales revenues
-- Wine Industry Value Added: $2.7 billion in distributor share of
American wine revenue; $9.8 billion in retail and restaurant share of
American wine revenue; 27.3 million wine-related tourist visits;
$3 billion estimated wine-related tourism expenditures.
-- Other Grape Products: $1.669 billion retail value of grape juice and
grape product sales; $3 billion retail value of table grape sales;
$560 million retail value of raisin sales
-- Total Taxes Paid: $17.1 billion, including $9.1 billion federal and
$8 billion state and local
The report itself is an excellent example of the last point. The study was made possible by the collaborative support of WineAmerica, Wine Institute, Winegrape Growers of America, and the National Grape and Wine Initiative, as well as cooperation from vintner and grower organizations in Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, and the states of Missouri, North Carolina, and Michigan and Texas Tech University, with overall coordination of industry groups by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation.
"As a grape grower, I am delighted by this study and very grateful to the Congressional Wine Caucus for unveiling it," said Jim Bedient, a grower of wine grapes and juice grapes in New York's Finger Lakes region, and current President of Winegrape Growers of America.
"As farmers, we are always talking about the climate -- the weather outside -- but we also recognize that the business climate is just as important for our industry's growth. We can't control the weather, but the business climate is largely shaped by public policy, so it's great that our elected officials now know the extent of our economic contribution and are eager to support our future growth. Immigration reform is an urgent priority for growers throughout the country, along with increased funding for research and promotion of specialty crops like grapes," stated Bedient.
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