Visa Waiver Program Changes Lumped in With Omnibus Bill
On its way to the Oval Office
Legislation designed to strengthen the existing Visa Waiver Program was lumped into the massive omnibus bill. The Visa Waiver Program currently allows foreign nationals holding citizenship from any of the 38 participating countries (there are a few other qualifying factors) to bypass consular processing in order to request entry to the U.S..
Though the House bill was introduced in January, the terrorist attacks in Paris last month prompted Congress to consider legislation designed to strengthen the existing Visa Waiver Program of which France is a particpant and, “help prevent terrorists from entering the United States,” said Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ).
USA Today reported Wednesday:
The visa-waiver provisions were included in a 2009-page spending bill to fund the federal government until next October. The House and Senate are expected to vote on the bill without changes by Dec. 22.
I read both the House and Senate version of the bill last week and outlined them in painful detail here. In sum, the bill could be a little stronger, but it makes solid, substantive reforms to the existing visa waiver program.
And yeah, the omnibus bill…
Here is a photo of the 2,242 page omnibus and tax deal. Voting could happen as soon as Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/RtXHyJRGxk
— Immigration Subcmte (@ImmigrationGOP) December 16, 2015
But we’ll save that for another post.
In a Congressional hearing discussing the Visa Waiver Program last week, Homeland Security Officials had zero answers regarding the safety, exit rate, and other vital statitstics of the existing program. TRIGGER WARNING: this is painful/infuriating to watch.
Thankfully, these reforms are a step in the right direction.
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Comments
I seem to vaguely remember something about a Republican promise that legislation would be available to examine for three days before a vote. I suppose this is better than the Democratic three minute window, but it still leaves a lot to be desired.
Every bit as good as their promises to get us out of the UN, close down the EPA, Dept of Ed, CPB, NEA…
When did they promise to do those things?
Yet more demonstration of the deep contempt that the GOP RINOs hold for conservatives.
Seriously, they aren’t even trying to hide it anymore. They bald faced lie to get elected and expect us to quietly fall in line.
Every single POS Republican that votes for this bill needs to be primaried.
WTH are you talking about? They’re doing a good thing.
Most of the votes in the House for this crime are going to be Democrat votes. Ryan is now the Democrat Speaker of the House. All I have seen that might be considered a victory for the country that the Republicans wanted were lifting the ban on oil exports and there was a 7% cut in our contributions to the UN [which can and will be made up in a supplemental appropriations bill].
The Democrats get everything they asked for, all the Refug-jihadi’s in the world, and removal of all limits on taxes and spending.
Somebody tell me exactly why it matters to have a Republican Majority Congress.
I’m going to get a lot more rest next fall in any putative elections. No reason to work for any Republican unless Trump or Cruz are the nominees.
Obama does not obey the law when it comes to immigration or anything else for that matter:
“In a lengthy timeline released Monday, Sessions — the chairman of the Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest — lists every instance of the Obama administration ignoring, rewriting, delaying and breaking the nation’s immigration laws.”
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/02/16/sen-sessions-releases-lengthy-timeline-of-obama-administrations-dismantling-of-immigration-law/
One of Obama’s first actions on immigration:
“The Obama administration has eased the rules for would-be asylum-seekers, refugees and others who hope to come to or stay in the US and who gave “limited” support to terrorists or terrorist groups. The change is one of President Barack Obama’s first actions on immigration since he pledged during his State of the Union address last month to use more executive directives.”
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/09/us-relaxes-rules-immigrants-terrorist-links
Ryan is Boehner’s revenge.
Trump in 2016.
“Ryan is Boehner’s revenge” — as predicted by all. I did not understand why he was accepted as Speaker. The Republicans would not lie to me, would they?
It’s only as good as the implementation and enforcement, which is up to the administration. That means it will be foot-dragged indefinitely. Meanwhile, Ryan gave away the farm.
Really? What did he give away?
Excrement flows downhill. Look at her, and then look at who is at the top of our government. That includes the hacks in control of the GOPe.
Trump 2016, just for the hell of it.
I’ve never hated anyone or anything in my life. I feel it degrades oneself. That is the only thing that keeps me from hating the Republican party. They hate us, I won’t degrade myself to their level.
The only solution is to vote 3rd party. Then develop a 3rd party. The Republican party cannot be resuscitated. The corruption & decay are too well established.
I respectfully disagree with your solution but not your frustration. The RINOs took the party over and we must now take it back.
I suggest that the only practical solution is to vote FOR the best person in the primaries and then vote AGAINST the worst candidate in the general. A vote for a best/third party in the general is essentially (in a practical sense) a vote for the Democrat. Staying home and not voting in 2012 was essentially a vote for Obama.
The election is not about how I feel. It is about what is best for the country and our children and grandchildren. We do not want to dilute our power which is what we do when we go to a third party. A third party would allow us to watch the death of our country with a “clear” conscience.
The RINOs know this. That is why they are trying to destroy opposition like the Dems do (i.e., Cruz, Trump). Make the RINOs form a third party or they can just come out into the open and call themselves Democrats.
The Democrats and the GOPe are enemies of this country. We must defeat them, not fall into the trap (3rd party) that they have set. They have stated they want the base out of the party. Ask yourself why that is. Perhaps because we would then have no power but we might “feel good?”
And the pundits wonder why Trump is so popular?
I see lots of “thumbs-down” getting set on several comments. To whomever is doing that, please post your thoughts in the clear. I would like to know the substance of your disagreements with what is being written. Many of us need to be educated as to why we should love the GOPe.
‘Here’s to the new Boehner… Same as the old Boehner..’