Press Releases

Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga released the following statement after voting in support of the Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act which passed the House by a strong bipartisan vote of 407-19:

“Protecting the American people is one of the most basic and fundamental responsibilities of the federal government and both President Obama and Congress have a role in doing so. The Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act is the second bipartisan security measure passed by the House in the past three weeks that is designed to prevent terrorists from entering the United States. I am proud to have cosponsored this legislation and view it as an important step to enhance our national security.

“While the House has taken multiple steps to keep Americans safe, we still need leadership from the White House to eliminate ISIS. I am calling on President Obama to put forward a comprehensive plan to combat ISIS and confront the radical jihadists that seek to harm our country and our citizens.”

The Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act:

Allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to suspend participation of countries in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if said country does not share terrorism and foreign traveler data with the United States

Clarifies that the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) is a counterterrorism tool and requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to consider including additional information pertaining to terrorism threats to better screen foreign travelers

Requires an annual threat assessment conducted by the Director of National Intelligence and DHS to assess information sharing between VWP countries and the U.S.

Requires an annual intelligence assessment conducted by the Director of National Intelligence and DHS to assess airport, passport, and travel document standards

Directs DHS to report, within 30 days, on what additional data might be necessary to improve ESTA as a counterterrorism tool to screen travelers