Juneau -- The Alaska House of Representatives Wednesday passed House Joint Resolution 48. HJR 48 asks the United States Congress to amend a new law scheduled to go into effect in March, 2001, to exempt Canadian citizens from requirements to document every non-U.S. citizen entering or leaving the United States.

"Over 100 million people cross this border annually. It is the longest undefended border in the world," said Representative Gail Phillips (R-Homer), sponsor of HJR 48. "Exempting Canadians from this requirement would help to ensure that our strong relationship with Canada, and the economic benefits of that association, would continue."

Canada and the United States have a long practice of not requiring the majority of their citizens to complete formal documentation to enter each other's country. Currently, travelers leaving the U.S. do not have to stop at U.S. Customs. The Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, however, requires the Immigration and Naturalization Service to have in place by March 31, 2001, an automated system to document every non-U.S. citizen entering and exiting the United States. Every vehicle would have to stop in both directions to document the entry and departure of all non-U.S. citizens.

"If this provision is implemented it would cause massive congestion at land border crossings between the U.S. and Canada and threaten the economic structure on both sides of the border," said Phillips.

HJR 48 passed the House 36-0 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

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= Gail Phillips, 54 K