Speech #920300804

I rise to voice strong support for the passage of H.R. 16742. a bill to amend section 4 of the Internal Security Act of 1950. This bill is intended to fill a broad gap in the Nations protective armor by providing penal sanctions in support of the Presidents existing authority to impose travel restrictions to countries with which we are engaged in armed conflict. While the President under existing law possesses authority to withhold passports for travel to restricted areas pursuant to the Passport Act of 1926. and has been authorized under certain circumstances to prohibit a departure from the United States without a passport pursuant to the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. he is unable to apply penal sanctions for unauthorized travel to. in. or through restricted areas. This failure has seriously affected the Presidents capacity to protect our Nations security interests. In upholding the Presidents authority to impose restraints on travel to Cuba by withholding passports for such travel. the U.S.