releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=dd750dd9-90fa-4529-810f-a2e885af17ea
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=dd750dd9-90fa-4529-810f-a2e885af17ea | Heitkamp Helps Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Visa Waiver Program | 2015-12-02 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | As many as 20 Million Visitors from 38 Countries come into the U.S. each Year through the Visa Waiver Program WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today announced that she helped introduce bipartisan legislation to strengthen the security of the Visa Waiver Program and improve efforts to prevent terrorists from entering the United States. The legislation follows a two and a half hour U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security hearing Heitkamp participated in on November 19 which reinforced that the countrys biggest threat is not refugees, but some visa programs. Those testifying at the hearing included officials in charge of conducting the extensive required background checks on potential refugees as well as experts from top national security organizations and think tanks those leaning both Republican and Democratic. Heitkamps legislation aims to address the most serious security concerns with visas by improving information sharing between countries and making the process for getting visas more secure. As many as 20 million visitors from 38 countries come into the United States each year through the Visa Waiver Program. Over the past few weeks, Ive been doing my due diligence to understand the vetting process for refugees and others wishing to travel to the U.S., and not jump to conclusions, said Heitkamp. After hearing from national security experts and top officials, its clear our country faces a significant threat from those who could use the Visa Waiver Program to enter the U.S. and harm Americans. To truly focus on American security, our bipartisan bill would help prevent terrorists including those affiliated with ISIL from slipping into the U.S. through this program. Over 20 million visitors came into the U.S. last year alonethrough the Visa Waiver Program from countries friendly to the U.S. By strengthening this program and closing gaps, our bill would help prevent the Visa Waiver Program from being exploited by those with ties to terrorism and better enable us to keep Americans safe. The Visa Waiver Program Security Enhancement Act would improve the security of the Visa Waiver Program by: Requiring individuals who have traveled to Syria or Iraq in the past five years to acquire a traditional tourist visa instead of traveling without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. This process requires an in-person interview with an American consular official and the submission of the travelers biometric information. Requiring travelers using the Visa Waiver Program to submit biometric information, in the form of fingerprints and a photograph, before they travel to the United States. Requiring all visa waiver travelers to use an electronic passport, which are more secure and harder to tamper with. Requiring increased intelligence-sharing between Visa Waiver Program countries and the United States. Paying for security enhancements in the bill by increasing the Visa Waiver traveler fee, which is currently $14. Only $4 supports Visa Waiver Program security. In comparison, the fee for a traditional tourist visa is $160. Other senators who also helped introduce the bill included U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Dan Coats (R-IN), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). Background Applicants seeking visas to enter the U.S. must first undergo a background check before being cleared for entry. But certain countries have agreements with the U.S. allowing their citizens to freely travel to the U.S. with a passport, but no visa bypassing the traditional visa process which is known as the Visa Waiver Program. The U.S. has a rigorous vetting program before Americans can get passports that enable them to travel to other countries. Countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program, have various agreements with the U.S. that result in a non-uniform system and varying levels of information sharing between countries. The bipartisan bill would strengthen the Visa Waiver Program in the following ways: 1. Preventing foreign fighters from using the Visa Waiver Program: An estimated 5,000 European citizens have traveled to Syria and Iraq to fight. More than 1,500 of them are from France. If they return to their home countries, these individuals may be able travel to the United States without a visa. Legislative solution: Require individuals who have traveled to Syria and Iraq in the past five years to go through the traditional visa process, which includes an in-person interview, to come to the United States. 2. Requiring additional biometric information: In cases where the foreign national has never been to the United States before, U.S. law enforcement cannot run biometric information from that Visa Waiver Program traveler against key databases in advance of the persons first arrival in the United States. Legislative solution: Require biometric data to be provided by a foreign national prior to travel to the United States using the Visa Waiver Program. 3. Requiring electronic passports for participation in the Visa Waiver Program: Although electronic passports with built-in chips carrying biometric data are now required to be issued by Visa Waiver Program countries, some existing designated countries are effectively allowed to phase-in this requirement over several years because older passports can remain valid. Legislative solution: Require all Visa Waiver Program travelers have electronic passports within 90 days of enactment. Only individuals with machine-readable passports may travel using the Visa Waiver Program. 4. Requiring additional information sharing between countries:Information-sharing with the United States is a means of protecting national security while allowing individuals to travel without a visa. Information-sharing must be improved to help make sure threats are detected. Legislative solution: Improve information sharing by participating countries in the following ways: Require participation in the Visa Waiver Program be contingent on countries full implementation of information-sharing agreements, including agreements on foreign terrorists and those who have committed crimes. Increase contribution to, and screening against, INTERPOLs lost and stolen documents database. Require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to consider a countrys ability to collect, analyze and share passenger data concerning dangerous individuals. Improve biometric information sharing about, and screening of, refugees and asylum seekers. Require DHS to consider a countrys ability to share information about foreign fighters with multiple countries and multilateral organizations, like INTERPOL. 5. Increasing security in the air: All Visa Waiver Program countries should have signed federal air marshal agreements, which provide legal protection to air marshals in situations where they need to take action. Legislative solution: Require completion of a federal air marshal agreement. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |