We're a little tired of the congressional fad of naming our laws so that they render cute or relevant acronyms, but we will gladly put aside our disdain in the case of the JOLT Act, because it's a good piece of legislation.
JOLT stands for "Jobs Originated through Launching Travel," and the proposal merits another look by Congress, which took a long look last year but didn't act.
As reintroduced in the House by Reps. Joe Heck (R-Nev.) and Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), the bill (H.R. 1354) would authorize a number of small steps that could add up to a significant boost for travel.
Among other things, it would allow Canadian visitors to spend more than 180 days a year in the U.S. (the current maximum). This common-sense reform is reason enough to pass the whole bill, but there's more.
It would authorize the State Department to experiment with ways to expedite visa processing, by allowing consular officers to conduct the required in-person interview by videoconference for applicants in remote locations. It would also authorize a trial program allowing applicants to pay an extra fee for expedited processing, a sensible option for travelers in a hurry that simply isn't available today.
The bill would also ease the eligibility criteria of the Visa Waiver Program, which could lead to faster admission for countries such as Brazil, Chile, Israel and Poland.
Senators who sponsored the bill last year, including Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), are said to be close to reintroducing it in that chamber.
Here's hoping they do that, and more.