[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 179 (Thursday, December 10, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1759]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




VISA WAIVER PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT AND TERRORIST TRAVEL PREVENTION ACT OF 
                                  2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 8, 2015

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 158, the Visa 
Waiver Program Improvement Act. I agree that Congress has a 
responsibility to carefully examine the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and 
to take appropriate steps to improve the program and ensure our 
national security.
  Yet I am concerned that this bill would allow for the arbitrary 
discrimination of individuals based on their nationality. According to 
the American Civil Liberties Union, the language contained in H.R. 158 
is written so broadly that all nationals of Iraq, Syria, Iran or Sudan 
would have their VWP revoked, even if they have never resided or 
traveled to Iraq or Syria and only have nationality for those countries 
as a result of their parents.
  This bill would also terminate VWP travel privileges for anyone who 
has been in Iraq and Syria at any time on or after March 1, 2011, 
including those traveling to Iraq and Syria for professional purposes. 
This includes anyone from a journalist to a humanitarian aid worker. 
Congress can take steps to improve the program and ensure our national 
security without putting in place blanket provisions that allow for the 
discrimination of individuals based on their nationality. I look 
forward to working with my colleagues to address these issues as this 
legislation moves forward.

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