Rep Williams: Visa Waiver Bill “Essential to national security"

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Roger Williams (R-Texas) this evening supported the Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act which would prohibit certain individuals who have recently visited Syria, Iraq, Iran or Sudan from entering the United States without a visa.

"We cannot keep previous relaxed border policies in place when the threat to America is greater than ever," said Williams. "We must recognize newer threats and stay one step ahead of them. This common sense bill begins to do that, and it is essential to national security. I'm proud that we were able to come together tonight to tighten our borders and do away with a decades old loophole in our screening process."

Under certain guidelines, the Visa Waiver Program currently permits citizens of 38 nations visa-free travel to the United States for stays of 90 days or less. Williams is a member of the Task Force to Investigate Terrorism Financing, a component of the House Financial Services Committee.

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