I 112th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5850 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 18, 2012 Mr. Sherman (for himself, Mr. Poe of Texas, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Mr. Towns, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Engel, Mr. Rothman of New Jersey, Mr. Pascrell, Ms. Berkley, Mr. Schock, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Holt, Mr. Grimm, and Mr. Dold) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To provide for the inclusion of Israel in the visa waiver program, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Visa Waiver for Israel Act of 2012.

2.

Israel designated as a program country for visa waiver program

(a)

In general

Beginning on the date described in subsection (c), Israel shall be deemed a program country for purposes of section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187). (b)

Exemption from application of certain requirements

In the case of Israel, section 217(c)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(2)(A)) does not apply. (c)

Effective date; compliance requirements

The date described in this subsection is the date that the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, determines that Israel has complied with the following: (1)The government of Israel has entered into an agreement with the Government of the United States to report, or make available through Interpol or other means as designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security, to the United States Government information about the theft or loss of passports within a strict time limit and in a manner specified in the agreement. (2)The government of Israel has entered into an agreement with the Government of the United States to share information regarding whether citizens and nationals of Israel traveling to the United States represent a threat to the security or welfare of the United States. (3)The government of Israel cooperates with the Government of the United States on counterterrorism initiatives, information sharing, and preventing terrorist travel, and the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State determine that such cooperation will continue. (4)The government of Israel issues all new and reissued passports with biometric identifiers as described in section 303 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 (8 U.S.C. 1732). (5)The government of Israel has made every reasonable effort, without jeopardizing the security of the State of Israel, to ensure that reciprocal privileges are extended to all United States citizens.