WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday Representative Jackie Walorski (IN-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement after supporting H.R. 158, the Visa Waiver Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, which strengthens the security of the Visa Waiver Program to help prevent foreign terrorists from entering the United States.
“In order to protect our national security and the safety of Americans, we must adapt our policies to prevent terrorists from entering U.S. soil. Today’s legislation addresses and helps fix the vulnerabilities in the Visa Waiver Program. Before an individual is permitted to enter the United States, additional vetting is required. This includes enhanced screening of individuals who have visited or are citizens of Iraq, Syria, and ‘terrorist hotspots’ like Iran, Sudan, Somalia, or other nations that have seen a rise in significant terrorist activities. As our enemies continue to evolve, we must do the same to protect the American people from the risks posed by this threat. This is a good first step and I look forward to working with my colleagues to make further changes as new evidence comes to light.”
Tuesday, Walorski spoke on the House floor in support of the bill, click here to watch her remarks. H.R. 158 passed the House by a vote of 407-19 and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
