The legislation contains provisions to improve our ability to disrupt terrorists travel and infiltration of the United States. which the 9/11 Commission said was just as important as crippling their financial networks. That certainly makes sense. It requires the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State to implement security enhancements to the socalled visa waiver program. It also is increasingly clear that serious vulnerabilities exist within the visa waiver program. There are enhancements to the program that. if adopted in this bill. will close many of those vulnerabilities. including mandating improved reporting by foreign countries on the visa waiver program of lost or stolen passports. requiring countries to share information about prospective visitors who may pose a threat to the U.S.. and authorizing an electronic travel authorization system which would require travelers to apply in advance for authorization to visit America. thus allowing their names to be checked against terrorist watch lists well before they board airplanes. I note Senator COLLINS is on the floor of the Senate. our ranking member. I am going to yield to her in a few minutes. But she has considerably strengthened this section of the bill to protect America from people with the intent to harm us through acts of terrorism using this visa waiver program. Next. privacy and civil liberties: This legislation also makes important steps forward to ensure that as we fight terrorism. we do not trample on the rights of Americans we are pledged to defend. The legislation includes provisions very similar to those included in the Senatepassed version of the Terrorism Prevention Act with regard to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Board.