Statement -- Chairman Robert Wexler

Subcommittee on Europe hearing

“Improving America's Security,

Strengthening Transatlantic Relations:

An Update on the Expansion of the Visa Waiver Program”

May 14, 2008

The Europe Subcommittee will come to order.  I would like to thank Assistant Secretary Richard Barth and Deputy Assistant Secretary Tony Edson for testifying today regarding the expansion of the visa waiver program and its impact on transatlantic relations.

This is the second hearing in this Subcommittee over the past year focusing exclusively on the visa waiver program, and I want to again offer my unequivocal support for continuing and expanding this important program – which has mutually benefited millions of Americans as well as many of our allies abroad.

The visa waiver program is a crucially important security, economic, cultural and diplomatic tool for the United States, and has enabled temporary visa-free travel for Americans and citizens in 27 allied nations for over 22 years.

In 2006, more than 15 million people entered the United States under the program to conduct business, education, travel, and to visit friends and family. This program significantly impacts our nation’s economy. The US Chamber of Commerce estimates the visa waiver program is responsible for over 60 billion dollars annually.

The visa waiver program not only impacts our economy and diplomatic relations but is also critical to providing greater security for Americans and our allies in the post 9/11 world.  To that end, this hearing is timely given that it is taking place several months after H.R. 1, the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, was signed into law.

The 9/11 Act included important changes to the visa waiver program, which enhances American security and simultaneously opens the door for additional countries to join this program. Despite the rhetoric of opponents to the visa waiver program  -- these new provisions greatly improve US security by setting higher standards for travel documents and information sharing, and creating an incentive for other countries to share critical intelligence with the United States.

There are also new security requirements on the American side that enhance our national security. H.R. 1 created a waiver allowing the Administration to admit countries with refusal rates under 10% to the visa waiver program.  However, this waiver authority will only be available on the date on which the Secretary certifies to Congress that (1) an air exit system is in place that can verify the departure of not less than 97% of foreign nationals that exit through U.S. airports; and (2) the electronic system for travel authorization (ESTA) is operational.

Once these security elements are in place, the US will be able to monitor the entry and exit of travelers, and to match travelers’ information with terrorist watch lists, no-fly lists and other databases and better identify potential threats to our nation.

As the process moves forward, I want to express my strong support for the Administration’s efforts to engage in negotiations with those countries who meet the necessary security criteria to join the visa waiver program. As it stands, 8 countries – the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, Malta and the Republic of Korea -- have signed memorandums of understanding with the Administration, which is an important step in the process of accession to the visa waiver program.

Despite the positive movement forward – I cannot hide my disappointment with respect to the Administration’s failure to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Greece, an important NATO ally that has met all of the program requirements. It was my understanding last year that Greece was slated to be the first country to join the visa waiver program, and now it seems their application to join the program has been pushed back to the end of the line.  This delay is unacceptable, and I urge the Administration to move quickly to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding with Athens.

It is essential over the coming months that the Administration does everything in its power to move the Memorandums of Understanding forward, fully implement mandated changes to the program as specified, and begin admitting new countries to the program before the end of the year. I strongly believe expansion of this program will have a positive impact on US security as well as diplomatic relations with many of our allies who have stood shoulder to shoulder with America in support of democracy, human rights and the fight against terrorism. 

Again, I look forward to hearing from our witnesses. I would now like to call on my colleague, Congressman Elton Gallegly, the Ranking Member of the Europe subcommittee, for his opening remarks.