Today, Congressman Mike Quigley (D–IL)—along with several co-sponsors from both parties—introduced the Visa Waiver Program Enhanced Security and Reform Act. The bill, in consultation with the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Justice, and State, offers updated refinements to last year’s H.R. 959. These include several key reforms to modernize the…
On December 22, 2011, Taiwan was nominated by the U.S. Department of State for inclusion in the Visa Waiver Program. Since 1986, the Visa Waiver Program has facilitated travel and tourism in the United States for individuals from friendly member nations, and security measures added since the program’s inception have…
The United States is losing the race to protect its own interests in the Arctic region. It is important to create a sensible policy to field an adequate fleet of U.S.-owned ice-breakers. An adequate, competent, and sustainable fleet is the key to maintaining American presence in the region, protecting U.S.…
Congress established the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) in 1986 to strengthen the United States' relationship with key allies around the globe and it has become an invaluable program for advancing U.S. interests. The VWP: Encourages tourism, international business, and professional exchanges that promote economic growth; Builds solidarity and trust between…
A new bill, S. 203, sponsored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and John Kyl (R-AZ) would impose severe restrictions on membership in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Adding more restrictions to the VWP would be a huge mistake, hindering efforts to enhance a program that provides significant security, economic, and public …
We should work to include countries like Poland that are members of both the EU and NATO into the Visa Waiver Program. Today's visa regime reflects neither the current strategic relationship nor the close historic bonds between our peoples, and is out of date. --Barack Obama, statement on visit of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, July…
The House and Senate recently passed bills that would implement a number of new homeland security measures. In conference, a key provision of the Senate's bill that would strengthen and enhance the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) should be improved by requiring visitors from countries entering to "check out" at major U.S. international airports when they…
The Oil-for-Food fraud is potentially the biggest scandal in the history of the United Nations and one of the greatest financial scandals of modern times.1 Set up in the mid-1990s as a means of providing humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people, the U.N.-run Oil-for-Food program was subverted and manipulated by…
Within days of the oil spill, several European nations and thirteen countries in total apparently offered the Obama...…
North Korea s Next Shot Missile Defense This year, President Obama proposed cutting $1.4 billion from theMissile Defense Agency budget in an effort to focus on“rogue …
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