Amendment Affects Border Security Program

The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) criticized an amendment added recently to a Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill that would delay by 17 months implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), an important border security program, and limit the kinds of identity management technology solutions the program incorporates.

"The Stevens-Leahy amendmentis a blow to technology innovation, homeland security and taxpayer best value," said ITAA President Robert Laurence. "Were this amendment to pass into law, it would force a delay in an important border security program and hamper the ability of government to choose the best solution from a variety of technology alternatives."

The amendment virtually mandates that WHTI technology solutions implement International Organization for Standardization ISO 14443, a contactless smart card security standard, thereby eliminating other alternatives like long range RFID technologies.

Laurence said the choice of technology should be determined by the nature of the problem to be solved, not by Washington lawmakers:

"We urge Congress not to play favorites with technology," Laurence said. "Rather, we recommend they follow a course of action that promotes technology neutrality, performance objectives, heightened security, privacy safeguards and, as a result, efficiency and effectiveness for American taxpayers."