Bill Text: IL HR0246 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urges Congress to pass the Secure Travel and Counterterrorism Partnership Program Act of 2013 in an effort to improve our international diplomatic relationships, create jobs, stimulate the economy, and strengthen national security.

Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 19-9)

Status: (Passed) 2013-05-29 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia [HR0246 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HR0246-Introduced.html

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HR0246 LRB098 11712 GRL 44497 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The United States government launched the Visa
Waiver Program (VWP) in 1986 to make it easier for tourists and
business travelers from friendly nations to visit without a
visa, as long as their homeland met stringent security and
law-enforcement standards; and
WHEREAS, Poland is currently one of the few European
nations to be excluded from the VWP, despite its nearly
century-long diplomatic relationship with the United States;
and
WHEREAS, The Polish government repealed its visa
requirement for U.S. citizens traveling to Poland in 1991; and
WHEREAS, Poland has been one of the staunchest U.S. allies
during the military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, where
2,500 Polish soldiers are currently deployed; at least 24
Polish troops have been killed in action in Iraq and
Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, In his December 2010 meeting with Polish President
Bronislaw Komorowski, President Barack Obama said he would make
Poland's admission into the VWP a "priority", and pledged to
complete that process expeditiously; and

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WHEREAS, Expansion of the VWP would bring increased revenue
to the travel industry at a time when America's economy needs
it the most; according to the USTA, in 2010, more than 17
million visitors to the U.S. were from VWP countries,
comprising 65% of all visitors; while visiting, they spent
nearly $61 billion, supporting 433,000 American jobs and
generating $9 billion in tax revenues; and
WHEREAS, The Secure Travel and Counterterrorism
Partnership Program Act of 2013, currently under consideration
in Congress, aims to update and modernize VWP requirements,
ultimately making Poland and other U.S. allies eligible to
participate in VWP; the Act would also enhance national
security by encouraging information sharing between the United
States and member countries; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we urge Congress to pass the Secure Travel and Counterterrorism
Partnership Program Act of 2013 in an effort to improve our
international diplomatic relationships, create jobs, stimulate
the economy, and strengthen national security; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be

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delivered to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United
States House of Representatives, the Majority and Minority
Leaders of the United States Senate, and the members of the
Illinois congressional delegation.