TravelLawmakers want to ease travel to U.S. as part of immigration legislation
A bi-partisan group of House lawmakers is working to include a provision in the House immigration legislation which will make it easier to travel to the United States. Travel industry groups support the effort, having fought for years to get the government to relax security measures. The industry has argued that these measures have turned off many foreigners from traveling to the United States.
Countries particinpating in the visa weqaiver program // Source: commons.wikimedia.org
A bi-partisan group of House lawmakers is working to include a provision in the House immigration legislation which will make it easier to travel to the United States.
Travel industry groups support the effort, having fought for years to get the government. to relax security measures. The industry has argued that these measures have turned off many foreigners from traveling to the United States.
Representatives Mike Quigley (D-Illinois) and Joe Heck (R-Nevada) are the leaders of the effort. The Hill reports that they have authored the JOLT Act which includes expansion of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and a pilot project to explore the option of doing visa interviews using teleconfefrencing.
The JOLT Act would also add 3,500 new customs officers at major U.S. ports of entry to ensure travelers would wait no longer than thirty minutes to enter the United States.
Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, last Thursday asked the House to consider how the act would help the travel industry and the economy.
“As we welcome the Senate bill today, we urge the House of Representatives to equally consider how increased legitimate inbound travel for business and leisure purposes will enhance U.S. security and leverage the economic benefits of travel for all Americans,” Dow said.
“The Senate’s passage today of historic immigration reform legislation is a significant step toward strengthening U.S. national security and encouraging more travel to and within the United States. Through a number of travel-friendly provisions, the bill will boost America’s recovery by delivering jobs and economic growth to communities and businesses nationwide.”
Similar provisions were added to the Senate immigration bill.
Heck said he is optimistic about the discussions he had with House Judiciary Committee leaders. “We’re driving home the point that this is an important economic issue and that is a great job creator,” Heck told the Hill.
