Owens shares homeland security goals

WASHINGTON — Rep. William L. Owens said Thursday he will use his position on the House Homeland Security Committee to boost commerce along the U.S.-Canada border, an effort that may require him to push back against security-oriented policies.

"It's essential that the border remain open," Mr. Owens, D-Plattsburgh, said in a telephone interview following the announcement that Homeland Security and Armed Services will be his committee assignments.

Although his predecessor, former Rep. John M. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, and other upstate lawmakers occasionally sparred with the Department of Homeland Security over border policies, Mr. Owens said his experience on the eastern side of the congressional district has been that DHS worked with local officials to address concerns.

Among the major issues in recent years was the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which requires a passport or other higher-security identification for travel between the United States and Canada. With that policy now in place, however, the conflict between Congress and the department has settled down.

Mr. Owens said he expects to be an advocate on the committee for northern border issues, seeking a balance between security and business needs.

He may find the committee itself a source of conflict as lawmakers juggle calls for tighter security on the U.S.-Mexico border — especially the fight against illegal immigration — with the northern border's different set of priorities and the nation's historically closer relationship with Canada.

The committee has 13 members from southern border states and four members from northern border states.

Among issues the committee deals with annually is funding for the Border Patrol and Customs. The federal government has spent several years trying to make up for a shortage of agents along the northern border.