House Approves Bill To Strengthen Visa Waiver Program

Newly elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan (R-WI) (C) speaks to the assembled House after being elected as the new Speaker in Washington October 29, 2015. Included in his proposal was to require e-passports with biometric information for all travelers to the U.S.to minimize the chances of forgery. The Senate would impose a five-year restriction on individuals who have traveled to Iraq or Syria from using the waiver program.

Action on the visa waiver program is one of several issues Obama called for Congress to accomplish in his Oval Office speech Sunday night. For a traveler to be eligible to this program, they must also have a valid ESTA approval prior to traveling to the U.S.

Countries in the visa waiver program would be required to share counterterrorism information with the United States. That program is already being reviewed by the Homeland Security Department. This also brings to light the need to revoke passports of USA citizens who are fighting alongside ISIS.

The White House spokesman, Josh Earnest also said the administration was "pleased the conversations yielded legislation that would make our country safer".

H.R. 158 would require dual nationals and individuals who have traveled to certain nations or state sponsors of terror - including Syria, Iran, and Iraq - since March 1, 2011, to obtain a visa before traveling to the USA rather than entering through the VWP.

The bill was overwhelmingly passed with a 407-19 vote, reports said. "Today, the House took a very important step by passing legislation that addresses known vulnerabilities with our Visa Waiver Program by giving America the leverage it needs to ensure that all participating countries are sharing critical information necessary to stop enemies of freedom from exploiting our hospitality".

House lawmakers passed legislation Tuesday tightening controls on visa-free travel and requiring visas for anyone who has been in Iraq or Syria in the previous five years.

Congressman Fred Upton: "This bill strengthens the security of our visa waiver program so that we protect our national security and enhance our safety".

Until Tuesday's strong bipartisan vote, the two parties have struggled to come together on any measures to improve security after the terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif. Democrats were unable to get support for keeping persons on terror no-fly lists from legally buying guns or explosives.

The measure now moves to the Senate, where it likely will be attached to a must-pass spending bill needed by Friday to keep the government from shutting down. It was started in 1986 to boost tourism and tighten the country's relationship with close allies.