Coats Bill Would Tighten Visa Waiver Program, Provide Tools to Enhance Border Security

INDIANAPOLIS – Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, has introduced legislation to address the growing threat of domestic terrorist attacks. The Coats bill, entitled the Counterterrorism Border Security Enhancement Act (S. 2869), would enact changes to the Visa Waiver Program and provide additional tools to enhance border security.

“The threat of terrorist attacks within the United States is real and growing,” said Coats. “It is imperative that we address these new dangers to our homeland by acting to reassess and strengthen our border security. My legislation would ensure stricter control on cooperative travel agreements and procedures – like the Visa Waiver Program – and provide additional tools to address Americans who have joined ISIS and other terror groups.”

Changes the Coats legislation would make include:

• Amending the Visa Waver Program by tightening existing pre-travel clearance procedures and making them more focused on counterterrorism efforts;

• Ensuring stricter compliance with information-sharing agreements by those countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program, and suspending their participation if compliance is less than 100%;

• Authorizing the Secretary of State to revoke any passport issued to a United States citizen who is suspected of engaging in terrorist activities; and

• Updating the definition of treason to include support of terrorist organizations.

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