Speech #1050119680

I am talking particularly about several of these Dear Colleagues. There have been three now which have said the exact same thing. They have made the point that every country in the European Union Is a visa waiver country except for two. Portugal and Greece. But. I want to say to my colleagues that just because countries are a European country does not mean that they are going to automatically get certain special treat.ment. here should lie nothing magic attached to the fact that a country is iln Lhe European Union or not. The fact that there are two countries that are not in the visa waiver program that are in the European Union simply points and underlines the fact that we do have objective criteria that determine whether or not a country is going to be a visa waiver country or not. What It shows Is that we have the same standards thal apply to every single country i the world. The countries that meet the standards are admitted and become part or our visa walver system. The countries that do not meet the standards are not admitted. and It does not matter whether they are in Europe or some other continent. The fact. of the matter Is that saying that two countries deserve to be admitled to the visa waiver program just because they are European. and that is the implication of these three Dear Colleagues. is implying that European countries are more qualified to be admitted than countries In South America or Asia or Africa. I hope that is not tie Intent of tie drafters of what these Dear Colleagues meant. Nevertheless. that is the clear conclusion that any of us can draw when they sav that the reason these two other countries. Portugal and Greece. should ie admitled Is because they are part of Ihe European Union. Again. there is nothing magic about being In the Huropean Union. If any country in t.1e world wants to become a visa waiver country. all they have to do is meet the very clearly delineated standards. We should nel. change the rules imply L.o guarantee an outcome that we might like to have. That would be a little like a teacher who wants to lower the passing grade from 50 to 40 just to be able to pass a particular student.