[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               IRELAND AND THE VISA WAIVER PILOT PROGRAM

  (Mr. McCLOSKEY asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McCLOSKEY. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Friends of Ireland, I 
extend to all my wishes for a happy St. Patrick's Day. On this day no 
one needs to be reminded of the close cultural and historical ties 
between the United States and Ireland. Yet the Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver 
Pilot Program extends advantages to virtually all western European 
citizens, while denying participation to our close friends, the Irish. 
I will soon be introducing legislation with the gentleman from Kentucky 
[Mr. Mazzoli] which will eliminate the visa requirements for the Irish.
  The Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Pilot Program permits nationals of 
certain countries to apply for admission to the United States for up to 
90 days without having to obtain a visitor's visa. This September, the 
review and update of the Visa Waiver Pilot Program will take place 
again. Since the last review in 1990, the overstay rates for Irish 
citizens on nonimmigrant visas has declined considerably. In 1991, it 
was just 1.2 percent. In 1992, it improved to a mere .08 percent. These 
overstay rates are considerably lower than many countries already in 
the program.
  I urge my colleagues to support the inclusion of Ireland in the Visa 
Waiver Policy Program and put an end to the unfairness.

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