Program Allows Frequent Business Travelers to be More Productive
Bill Connors, National Business Travel Association (NBTA) Executive Director & COO, testified today before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection of the U.S. House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee, at a hearing on Capitol Hill entitled 'Managing Risk and Increasing Efficiency: An Examination of the Implementation of the Registered Traveler Program.' Connors noted that NBTA has supported the Registered Traveler (RT) program for more than five years and addressed specific areas where attention is needed.
'NBTA is strong proponent of the Registered Traveler program, and has been for several years,' said Connors. 'For the business traveler, time is money, and this program creates a much more predictable airport travel experience and takes some of the hassle out of the hassle factor endured by frequent business travelers, while increasing security by allowing airport screeners to concentrate on unknowns. We believe the RT program can live up to the title of this hearing by 'Managing Risk and Increasing Efficiency.''
Throughout the RT public policy debate, NBTA has continually advocated seven points that are key to the program's success. In today's testimony, Connors noted that the first four items are built into the RT business model, while progress is underway for the remaining three:
• Voluntary participation (opt-in)
• Interoperability between airports and between RT providers
• Robust protection of participant data
• Enhances overall security
• Broad availability
• Expedited screening provided in a designated lane without slowing other travelers
• Public understanding of the benefits offered by Registered Traveler
To maintain RT's success and efficiency, Connors suggested that populations known to pose negligible security risks be automatically enrolled in RT. Those populations could include federal workers with security clearances, members of the TWIC program and enrollees in the U.S.-Canada NEXUS program. He also encouraged Senate and House conferees to support the 2008 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill, which includes provisions to authorize an International Registered Traveler program.
Connors added, 'RT is one program within a broader, layered security system and is a risk management concept supported by the 9/11 commission and travel organizations like ours. We believe the RT program can enhance travel security as well as our economic security by promoting the healthy conduct of commerce in our global economy.'
The National Business Travel Association (NBTA) is the world's premier business travel organization. U.S.-based NBTA and its regional subsidiaries - NBTA-Asia Pacific, NBTA-Canada and NBTA-Mexico - serve more than 3,000 members in 30 nations around the world. NBTA has 42 U.S. Chapters with more than 5,000 members. NBTA members are corporate and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers, who collectively manage and direct more than $170 billion of global business travel expenditures annually. The association provides industry-leading networking, education & professional development, research, news & information, and advocacy. For more information, visit www.nbta.org.
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