EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

1-1 Whereas, The economy of the State of Nevada is dependent upon

1-2 tourism; and

1-3 Whereas, Canada and Mexico rank No. 1 and No. 7, respectively,

1-4 among Nevada’s sources of international tourism, sending more than 1.5

1-5 million Canadian visitors and more than 104,000 Mexican visitors to this

1-6 state per year; and

1-7 Whereas, Visitors from Canada and Mexico comprise a major

1-8 economic contribution to the State of Nevada; and

1-9 Whereas, The United States has entered into international trade

1-10 agreements with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, to foster, encourage

1-11 and stimulate the exchange of goods and products for mutual economic

1-12 gain; and

1-13 Whereas, The United States does not currently require departing

1-14 tourists returning to Canada and Mexico to be stopped and identified at

1-15 border crossings; and

1-16 Whereas, Section 110 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and

1-17 Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 requires that a new entry-exit control

1-18 system be implemented to track all foreign visitors entering and leaving the

1-19 United States but does not provide any law enforcement benefits; and

2-1 Whereas, The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant

2-2 Responsibility Act of 1996 would impose new border inspection

2-3 requirements for the gathering of data at entry and departure points for

2-4 vehicular traffic from Canada and Mexico where none currently exist; and

2-5 Whereas, The new border entry-exit system does not provide for any

2-6 enhancement of provisions for apprehending or removing illegal

2-7 immigrants, drug traffickers, terrorists or other criminals and would not

2-8 curtail illegal immigration at the borders; and

2-9 Whereas, No inspection stations or other facilities for departing

2-10 foreign traverlers have been constructed; and

2-11 Whereas, This system would be implemented at enormous expense to

2-12 the taxpayers of the United States with no tangible benefits; and

2-13 Whereas, Congress has held hearings at various sites along the

2-14 Canadian border to consider exempting that country from the provisions of

2-15 the Act, but no such hearings have been held or are scheduled in the

2-16 Mexican border states; and

2-17 Whereas, Mexican and Canadian tourists who enter the United States

2-18 for business and recreational travel are not immigrants; and

2-19 Whereas, These nonimmigrant Mexican and Canadian business and

2-20 leisure travelers who will already be required to present travel documents

2-21 to enter the United States, would be subjected to inspections and queries

2-22 upon departure that would cause travel delays and inconveniences to those

2-23 tourists; and

2-24 Whereas, Such delays and inconveniences would discourage tourism in

2-25 the United States by Mexican and Canadian citizens, delay commerce and

2-26 create an economic downturn; and

2-27 Whereas, The borders with Canada and Mexico should be kept

2-28 reasonably free of governmental over-involvement in order to encourage

2-29 tourism, trade and legitimate economic activity that benefit all three

2-30 countries; and

2-31 Whereas, The National Governors’ Association at its meeting in

2-32 Washington in February 1998 determined that the entry-exit control system

2-33 may have "unintended negative consequences on international trade,

2-34 tourism and the economy"; and

2-35 Whereas, The National Governors’ Association urged suspension of

2-36 implementing the entry-exit control system until Congress and the President

2-37 can ensure that any such system will not disrupt tourism, trade or other

2-38 legitimate traffic entering the United States; and

2-39 Whereas, Congress passed legislation in October 1998 delaying

2-40 imposition of the implementation of the provisions of Section 110 until

2-41 March 31, 2001, but allowing the exit system to take effect at the airports

2-42 of international entry in the United States; now, therefore, be it

3-1 Resolved by the Senate and Assembly of the State of Nevada,

3-2 Jointly, That Congress is hereby urged permanently to mitigate the

3-3 consequences of the provisions of Section 110 of the Illegal Immigration

3-4 Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996; and be it further

3-5 Resolved, That Congress is encouraged to keep the borders between

3-6 the United States and Canada and Mexico reasonably free of governmental

3-7 over-involvement and to impose no new restrictions until infrastructure is

3-8 available that can collect data and detect illegal and unwanted immigration

3-9 without disrupting legitimate tourist travel; and be it further

3-10 Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and transmit a copy

3-11 of this resolution to the Vice President of the United States as the presiding

3-12 officer of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and each

3-13 member of the Nevada Congressional Delegation; and be it further

3-14 Resolved, That this resolution becomes effective upon passage and

3-15 approval.