H.R. 5594 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5594 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 18, 2014 Ms. Gabbard (for herself and Mr. Perry) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To suspend from the visa waiver program any country that has identified passport holders fighting with an Islamist extremist organization, and for other purposes. 1. Suspension from visa waiver program (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, immediately shall suspend from the visa waiver program established under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187) any country that has identified passport holders fighting with Islamic extremist organizations, including such groups as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and al-Qaeda affiliated organization. (b) Restoration of participation The Secretary of Homeland Security shall restore a suspended country’s participation in the visa waiver program upon a determination by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence of the ability of both the suspended country and the United States to identify, track, and negate the risk of any individual entering the United States from such country under the visa waiver program. 2. Sense of Congress It is the sense of the Congress that— (1) the Comptroller General of the United States should conduct a review of the national security risks associated with the visa waiver program and submit the results of that review to the Congress; (2) the Secretary of Homeland Security should take steps to strengthen the electronic travel authorization system described in section 217(h)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187(h)(3)), identify any individual fighting with an Islamic extremist organization, and deny such individual the ability to enter the United States by means of such system; and (3) the Secretary of Homeland Security should complete as expeditiously as possible the biometric entry and exit data system described in section 7208 of the 9/11 Commission Implementation Act of 2004 (8 U.S.C. 1365b). 3. Technical amendments Section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187) is amended by striking Attorney General each place the term appears (except in subsection (c)(11)(B)) and inserting Secretary of Homeland Security.