Rep. Mimi Walters on Visa Waiver Program Legislation

Statement

U.S. Representatives Mimi Walters (CA-45) today released the following statement after voting in support of H.R. 158, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015. This legislation would strengthen the Visa Waiver Program to protect the U.S. from terrorists seeking to exploit the program.

Said Rep. Mimi Walters, "The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) has been in place for thirty years, providing residents of 38 countries the ability to travel to the U.S. for up to 90 days without attaining a visa by passing background security checks. While the VWP has an enormously positive economic impact -- supporting one million U.S. jobs and $190 billion in 2014 - the growing threat from extremists and terrorists groups like ISIS, highlight the need to close security gaps in the VWP. This legislation would strengthen U.S. national security by requiring participating countries to share counterterrorism intelligence with the U.S., allow DHS to suspend a high-risk country's participation, and prohibit those who have recently traveled to Syria or Iraq from using the program. It is critical that we take every step possible to protect American citizens and send this bill to the president's desk without delay."

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