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Committee on Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Europe
Statement of Rep. Elton Gallegly
Expanding the Visa Waiver, Enhancing Transatlantic Relations
May 24, 2007

Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing in the Europe Subcommittee on the visa waiver program and its impact on our relations with our European allies.

In the past several months, this subcommittee has held six hearings, three of which have been joint hearings with other subcommittees of the Foreign Affairs Committee. In my view, this hearing could also have been conducted as a joint hearing with the subcommittee chaired by Representative Sherman that has jurisdiction over counter-terrorism efforts. I say this because while we recognize that the visa waiver program is an important issue in our bi-lateral relations with the twelve European Union countries that want to participate in the program, it is also true that we cannot evaluate the merits of expanding the visa waiver program without considering the national security implications of such a move.

There is no doubt regarding the importance of the visa waiver program to our nation's travel and tourism industry and to the American economy. In 2005, almost 16 million people came to our country as a result of this program. This represents almost 50% of all temporary visitors to the United States. Clearly, the visa waiver program is a vital part of the $645 billion U.S. travel industry.

However, I also believe that Congress and the Administration should tread very carefully before we do anything that would lead to more people entering the United States without first having to undergo a face-to-face interview with one of our professionals located in a U.S. consulate overseas.

Therefore, at this point, I will not support any expansion of the visa waiver program unless it is a part of a comprehensive immigration reform package that includes provisions that will secure our borders. This must include the implementation an entry-exit system so we can determine if all foreign visitors, including visa waiver travelers, leave the U.S. in compliance with their visa terms.

In addition, the Department of Homeland Security must institute a system to permit our ports-of-entry to immediately access information on lost and stolen passports. I find it difficult to accept that almost six years after 9-11, our inspectors at the border and at airports still do not have real time access to this information.

Mr. Chairman, before yielding I would like to ask unanimous consent to enter into the record my full statement, as well as a statement by Representative John Shimkus, who is the Co-Chair of the House Baltic Caucus. Representative Shimkus and I have different views on this issue. However, he has worked hard on this issue and I did want his proposals to be made a part of the official record of this hearing.

Thank you Mr. Chairman and I yield back.