I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1465 
To provide additional discretion to the Secretary of Homeland Security in 
designating countries eligible to participate in the visa waiver program 
under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 9, 2007 
Mr. WEXLER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To provide additional discretion to the Secretary of Home-
land Security in designating countries eligible to partici-
pate in the visa waiver program under section 217 of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
The Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) As of the enactment of this Act, the visa 
waiver program under section 217 of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187) enables 
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citizens of 27 countries to travel to the United 
States for tourism or business for 90 days or less 
without obtaining a visa. 
(2) In fiscal year 2006, more than 18,300,000 
people entered the country under the program. 
(3) The visa waiver program provides many 
benefits for the United States economy and bilateral 
relationships, and strengthens tourism and business 
opportunities for American citizens. 
(4) The visa waiver program is a substantial ex-
pression of the strong ties between the United States 
and its allies in the global war on terror. 
(5) Expansion of the visa waiver program would 
enhance the security of the United States as well as 
travelers to the United States. 
SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL DISCRETION FOR CONSIDERATION OF 
VISA REFUSAL RATES. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall have the 
authority 
to 
waive 
the 
requirements 
of 
section 
217(c)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1187(c)(2)(A)) with respect to a country seeking 
designation as a program country under section 217(c) of 
such Act, if the Secretary determines that— 
(1) the country has developed a viable plan to 
meet the requirements within 3 years; 
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(2) the country has made significant progress 
in reducing its nonimmigrant visa refusal rate in the 
previous 2 years; 
(3) waiver of the requirements would not com-
promise the security or welfare of the United States; 
and 
(4) the country has fully cooperated in 
counterterrorism and information sharing initiatives. 
SEC. 3. SECURE TRAVEL STANDARDS REPORTING. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit a report 
to the Congress that describes plans for enhancing secure 
travel standards for program countries designated under 
section 217(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1187(c)), including the feasibility of instituting an 
electronic authorization travel system, additional pas-
senger information exchanges, and enhanced airport secu-
rity standards. 
Æ 
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