Commerce and trade between the U.S. and Canada is an economic engine that generates upwards of $400 billion per year for our country and supports over 170,000 Michigan jobs. This recent decision by Homeland Security on fingerprinting is jeopardizing an initiative that could safely reduce the delays at border crossings and help ensure the swift and secure movement of people and goods across the U.S.-Canadian border.
The Department of Homeland Security’s decision to withdraw from these negotiations shows a disregard for the economies of communities like Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan that thrive because of efficient cross-border traffic. I hope that as President Bush visits Canada, he makes reviving the Shared Border Management Initiative a top priority.