Discover America Partnership Applauds Visa Waiver Program
WASHINGTON, DC, March 2, 2007. The Discover America Partnership applauds Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) for her critical amendment to S.4, the Improving America's Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. Senator Feinstein worked closely with Senators George Voinovich (R-OH), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and Jon Kyl (R-AZ) to develop a reasonable approach to simultaneously strengthening America's security and expanding access to the country for millions of legitimate international travelers. Senator Feinstein's amendment clarifies the eligibility of additional countries for the VWP and will further strengthen the government's ability to confirm that legitimate travelers have departed the U.S. in compliance with their admission.
Countless studies show that those who have visited America have more favorable opinions of the country and are more likely to support U.S. policies. In the effort to win hearts and minds around the world, travel is the greatest tool at our disposal. We applaud these leaders for striving to strike the right balance between secure borders and travel facilitation.
The Partnership's recent "Blueprint to Discover America" advocated expansion of the VWP coupled with the construction of a robust "exit" capability for air travelers as part of the US-VISIT program. The Partnership looks forward to working with Congress to enact additional reforms included in the "Blueprint" in coming days and weeks.
The Discover America Partnership - launched in September 2006 by some of America's foremost business leaders, as well as hundreds of travel industry leaders - is an aggressive, Washington, D.C.-based, advocacy campaign designed to educate policymakers on the power of travel; highlight the unnecessary obstacles to welcoming more visitors; and, through extensive research, determine how the US can better compete for international visitors. More information on the Partnership can be found at www.poweroftravel.org.
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