releases: http://shuster.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=756
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://shuster.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=756 | House Moves to Strengthen Visa Waiver Program | 2015-12-08 | 2015 | 2015-12 | Republican | House | PA | Bill Shuster | S001154 | shuster.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Bill Shuster (R-Hollidaysburg) helped pass H.R. 158, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act of 2015 on Tuesday. The legislation strengthens the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) by requiring individuals that have traveled to countries of concern and State Sponsors of Terrorism such as Iraq, Syria, and Iran since March 1, 2011 to obtain a visa before entering the United States. Congress needs to make several reforms to strengthen our national security in order to defend American soil from radical Islamic terrorists, said Congressman Shuster. One of the important steps that is needed is to make certain that individuals who have visited nations like Iraq, Syria, and Iran in the last several years cannot use the Visa Waiver program to enter the United States. The Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act closes a potential path for terrorists to get into the country, and helps eliminate another backdoor for ISIS. The Visa Waiver Program was created in 1986 to allow individuals from participating countries to travel to the United States for up to 90 days for business or tourism without obtaining a U.S. visa. If they were a national from a participating country, they would just need to present a valid passport and meet additional requirements. With this legislation, individuals that have traveled to nations including Iraq, Syria, and Iran would need to go through the full Visa process in order to enter the United States. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |