Mr. Speaker. today while I rise in support of H.R. 158 the Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act of 2015. I must also note my reservations about some of the provisions in this bill. President Obama in an address to the American people from the Oval Office specifically asked Congress to pass legislation to address any weaknesses within our visa waiver program (VWP) and for a "stronger screening for travelers to the U.S. without a visa to check if they have travelled to warzones." After the terror attacks in Paris. France and San Bernandino. California we must ensure E1791 that a law created to encourage travel and cultural exchange is not exploited by those who would do us harm. We must scrutinize and strengthen our VWP and many of the provisions in this bill do just that. I support the provisions in this bill that encourage our allies to share biometric data. improve data sharing on criminal and security concerns and stronger vetting systems This bipartisan effort is a significant improvement over H.R. 4038. a bill which did nothing but target innocent refugees and exploited xenophobic and unsubstantiated fears. While I support the overall thrust of this bill. I do have some reservations.
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visa Visa refugees xenophobic