WASHINGTON – Sens. Susan Collins, Olympia J. Snowe, Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) and Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) have introduced an amendment to the immigration reform bill that would increase the types of identification documents to satisfy the requirements of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, or “passport rule.”

The bill also would ensure that such documents are available and affordable.

It would extend the implementation from Jan. 1, 2008, to June 1, 2009, or three months after the secretary of Homeland Security can ensure that the identification documents are ready.

It would limit the cost of the documents to $34 over 10 years, a fraction of the cost of a standard passport. It also would waive the fee for children under age 18.

WHTI was signed into law in 2004 and would have required that all individuals crossing the borders from Canada and Mexico carry passports.

Collins was successful in her efforts to encourage the Department of Homeland Security to accept identification documents as alternatives to passports.