NBTA Lauds Plan to Launch Registered Traveler Program Next Summer

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 3, 2005--The National Business
Travel Association (NBTA) praised today's announcement by the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that it would launch a
national Registered Traveler program by June 20, 2006. The
announcement was made by TSA Assistant Secretary, the Honorable Kip
Hawley, during a hearing held by the U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Economic Security,
Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity.


NBTA also lauded the Subcommittee for its work to ensure TSA meet the
mandate to develop and implement Registered Traveler. This is the
third hearing the Subcommittee has held on Registered Traveler in five
months. NBTA Executive Director and COO Bill Connors, CTC, was
privileged to testify at the first of those hearings on June 9, 2005.

"Business travelers, travel managers and their companies will be
pleased to learn that after more than three years of promoting the
importance of a Registered Traveler program, a timeline is finally set
for putting the program in place," said Connors. "Registered Traveler
will increase the level of air travel security by shrinking the
proverbial haystack for airport screeners, and it will speed the
screening process at airports, making travel more pleasant and more
productive for business travelers."

The Registered Traveler program, overseen by TSA, will provide
expedited air travel security screening to travelers who volunteer for
government background checks. During today's hearing, entitled "The
Future of Registered Traveler," TSA shared basic information gathered
during recently-completed tests of the program and laid out its plan
for developing a permanent Registered Traveler program by June 2006.

The program will involve the private sector in managing the issuance
of cards for Registered Traveler participants. TSA's plan calls for a
period of public comment on how it will partner with the private
sector. Today's hearing included significant debate about the best
business model for Registered Traveler.

Connors said, "Based on our research and discussions with business
travelers, their travel managers and their companies, NBTA advocates
for a program that is fully voluntary, respects the privacy of those
who participate, provides expedited screening, works at all
participating airports, and is available on a large scale and at a
fair price. As long as those needs are met, the business travel
community looks forward to the launch of a national Registered
Traveler program."

NBTA has lead the corporate travel industry call for a Registered
Traveler program since the concept was first introduced more than
three years ago.

The National Business Travel Association is the source for critical
information on the business travel industry. For more than 35 years,
NBTA has dedicated itself to the professional development of its
members through advocacy, education and training, and networking
opportunities. NBTA represents over 2,500 corporate and government
travel managers and travel service providers, who collectively manage
and direct more than $170 billion of expenditures within the business
travel industry. For more on NBTA, visit www.nbta.org.

Contacts


National Business Travel Association (NBTA)
Caleb Tiller, 703-684-0836, ext. 138
ctiller@nbta.org
or
Courtney Leigh Beisel, 703-684-0836, ext. 133
cbeisel@nbta.org