releases: http://hartzler.house.gov/press-release/hartzler-votes-give-visa-waiver-program-boost-security
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://hartzler.house.gov/press-release/hartzler-votes-give-visa-waiver-program-boost-security | Hartzler Votes to Give Visa Waiver Program Boost in Security | 2015-12-08 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | MO | Vicky Hartzler | H001053 | hartzler.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTONCongresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) today voted to strengthen the United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP) in order to close critical security gaps in the program and address the heightened terror threat environment. Today the House passed the Visa Waiver Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 with an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 407-19. In the aftermath of the Paris attacks, perpetrated partially by radicalized citizens from visa waiver countries, it is clear that more must be done to ensure Americans safety, Hartzler said. The current Visa Waiver Program contains a number of security gaps we address with this legislation. The threat of an extremist traveling from a visa waiver country to the United States is a real concern and must be addressed. This act works to boost security measures in those participating countries to ensure we have more complete information and verifiable documents on those traveling to our shores. It also terminates the program in those countries failing to do so, Hartzler continued. Under this legislation, the U.S. Visa Waiver Program would go further to deny visa waiver status to individuals who have traveled to terrorist hotspots, such as Iraq and Syria, since 2011. The federal government has a fundamental obligation to protect Americans, and this is a constructive step towards doing that. Background: The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) was created in 1986 and allows nationals from participating countries to travel to the U.S. for up to 90 days for business or tourism without obtaining a U.S. visa, by presenting a valid passport, and by meeting certain other requirements. Currently, there are 38 countries that participate in the VWP. For a complete list of participating countries, click here. To be designated as a VWP country, the country must participate in security reviews every other year and meet several key conditions, such as offering reciprocal visa-free travel for U.S. citizens and meeting a host of information-sharing and security requirements. The VWP is a privilege. Citizens of non-participating countries have to get a visa to travel to the United States, just like U.S. citizens have to do when they visit most countries around the world. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have fled their war-torn country and ISIS terrorists and sympathizers have made clear that they plan to infiltrate Westerns countries through the refugee system. As thousands of Syrian refugees are set to be resettled in European countries most of which participate in the VWP this has raised legitimate concerns that terrorists could come to the United States through this fast-track system. Congresswoman Hartzler serves on the House Armed Services, Agriculture, and Budget Committees. She represents Missouris Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |