Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
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	Press Releases July 29, 2005   SENATOR COLLINS STRESSES NEED FOR DHS GUIDANCE AND OVERSIGHT OF VISA SECURITY PROGRAM GAO finds strategic plan and performance data lacking, necessary to determine effectiveness of program   Washington, DC – Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) today stressed the need for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide guidance and conduct more stringent oversight of its Visa Security Program. The program is designed to protect the visa process from being exploited by known and potential terrorists who seek to travel to the U.S. The Visa Security Program provides training to consular officers on terrorist threats and application fraud and is responsible for reviewing visa applications. The program currently operates at two locations in Saudi Arabia. DHS plans to expand operations at those posts and add new operations at three other sites. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that was released today found that DHS has not developed a strategic plan outlining the Visa Security Program’s mission, activities, program goals, and intended results. The report also found that DHS has not maintained comprehensive data on the results of the program, so it is difficult to determine its impact. “The September 11th attacks exposed vulnerabilities in the visa process, particularly the frequent failure to use interviews and application reviews as antiterrorism tools. The Visa Security Program is meant to help prevent those who may pose a threat to our country from entering our borders in the first place,” said Senator Collins. “But the program needs fixing, and the Committee looks forward to working with DHS to make the necessary improvements, including implementing a strategic plan and performance measurements to track the program’s effectiveness.” GAO recommended that DHS, in consultation with the Department of State, develop a strategic plan to guide the operations of the Visa Security Program in Saudi Arabia and the planned expansion to other embassies and consulates, and compile and maintain comprehensive performance data. GAO recommended that Congress consider changing law that requires Visa Security Officers to review every visa application, since that was found to limit the officers’ ability to carry out their other functions. Other weaknesses that were identified, which need to be addressed by DHS: a lack of specialized training and foreign language proficiency amongst Visa Security Officers; a lack of continuity in operations due to the placement of temporary officers for two to fifteen months; and physical security concerns at consular posts. Senator Collins is the Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has oversight of DHS.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 July 2005 Press Releases June   |  August   --   2004   |  2006     July 29 current Press Release   July 29 - Senator Collins’ Statement On GAO’s Paul Posner   July 27 - Senator Collins To Introduce Chemical Security Legislation In Fall   July 27 - Senate Homeland Security Leaders Call For Increased Mass Transit Security Funding   July 26 - Senator Collins’ Legislation Stops U.S. Companies from Using Foreign Subsidiaries to Do Business with Terrorist States   July 22 - Senators Collins & Lieberman Criticize TSA for Violating Privacy Laws While Testing Passenger Prescreening System   July 22 - Senators Collins, Lieberman Launch Investigation into Mass Transit Security in the U.S.   July 21 - Senator Collins Says Move By China To Revalue Yuan Is Good First Step, More Needs To Be Done To Meet Fair Trade Standards   July 21 - Committee Approves Nominees For DHS IG, GSA IG, & TSA Administrator   July 20 - Feingold, Collins Provision To Watch Over Iraq Reconstruction Spending Included In Senate Foreign Ops Bill   July 19 - Senator Collins Applauds Maine Coast Guard Crew Involved In Major Cocaine Busts   July 18 - Senator Collins Announces $7.1 Million For Amtrak Security   July 14 - SENATOR COLLINS SPONSORS LEGISLATION TO ENSURE REASONABLE BORDER REQUIREMENTS FOR FREQUENT TRAVELERS TO CANADA   July 13 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN QUESTION INDUSTRY AND OTHER EXPERTS ON PRIORITIES FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO MAKE CHEMICAL FACILITIES MORE SECURE   July 13 - SENATOR COLLINS’ STATEMENT ON DHS’ SECOND STAGE REVIEW   July 12 - SENATE APPROVES COLLINS-LIEBERMAN FIRST RESPONDER GRANT FORMULA, DOUBLES RISK-BASED HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING   July 11 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN OFFER FIRST RESPONDER GRANT LEGISLATION AS AMENDMENT TO HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL   July 10 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN RELEASE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE SAFEGUARDS IN FEMA’S DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM   July 1 - COMMITTEE RELEASES WHITE HOUSE RESPONSE TO COLLINS-LIEBERMAN INTELLIGENCE REFORM OVERSIGHT LETTER
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Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510