WASHINGTON -- The Senate approved a measure that would make
permanent the 12-year old Visa Waiver Pilot Program, clearing the
way for President Clinton's signature.
The House previously approved the visa bill (H.R. 3767).
William Norman, president of the Travel Industry Association,
which for over 10 years has been lobbying for permanency, quickly
hailed the Senate's action as "perhaps the most important
legislative victory for our industry in a decade, since it will
single-handedly ensure the free flow of tourism to and from the
U.S. for the future."
The Visa Waiver Pilot Program permits travelers from 29
qualifying countries to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without a
visitor visa. In return, the countries allow U.S. citizen to also
visit without a visa.
Gaining permanent status for the pilot program was one of the
key objectives emerging out of the White House Conference on
Tourism in 1996.
The Visa Waiver Pilot Program bill was tucked into fast moving
"Tech Visa" legislation, that would eliminate red tape for
individuals from overseas who have high-tech skills.
The pilot program, which has been renewed by Congress on an
annual basis, has been around so long that many travelers take it
for granted. But without it, U.S. travelers would need to obtain
visas to such countries as France, Great Britain, Germany and
Singapore.
"To a lot of people, this might be a non-event, but I guarantee
you, that if Congress adjourned and the program had not been
renewed, you would have planes that would be empty, national parks
that would not be visited and restaurants and hotels that would go
begging," said Richard Webster, the TIA's director of legislative
affairs.
In other news, the Senate also approved the Airport Security
Improvement Act of 2000 (S. 2200), which would, among other things,
improve airport security by requiring criminal background checks
for all baggage handlers. A similar bill is pending in the
House.