January
17 th

The Visa Waiver Program – Let us get involved

The Visa Waiver Program bill for Polish citizens is currently in Congress – tell them to pass it!

We must convince a majority in both houses of Congress to pass this legislation before President Obama can sign it into law. Ambassador Kupiecki has requested our help in Texas to inform the Polonia here of the urgent need to call, email, or write now.

 

In the House of Reps, the bill, number H.R. 959, is sponsored by Rep. Mike Quigley of Illinois and is currently in Congress.  The Senate Bill S.497 is sponsored by Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, and co-sponsored by Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois. The bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements of the visa waiver program. This bill would change the visa requirements for visitors from Poland. It is critical for you and your friends to call and write your Senators and Representatives to pass this bill.

Follow these easy steps to support the passing of this bill:

Look up contact info for your representatives by entering your state (& zip code):

– House of Reps:  https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml – Tell them you support House bill HR.959.

– Senate: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm?State=TX – Tell them to support Senate bill S.497.

 

If the Representatives/Senators from your state serve on the Committee of the Judiciary, express to them how important the passage of the bill is to you and your family and urge them to support the bill (and “ensure the legislation’s successful referral out of Committee”) for a vote on the floor of both houses.  If your Representatives and/or Senators are not in the Committee to which the bill was referred, please urge them strongly to support the bill by becoming its co-sponsor (if they are not already).

Feel free to include the following information in your letters/phone calls: Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria are the only EU countries currently excluded from the Visa Waiver Program. Poland has been a long time friend and ally of the United States going back to the American Revolutionary War.  Poland has stood alongside the US sending thousands of troupes to battles including the Gulf war and Afghanistan. There is no reason for the citizens of Poland to be required to apply for a visa to enter the US. The need for a visa discourages citizens of Poland from traveling to the US. The H.R. bill number 959 could finally change visa requirements for Poland to be equal with other European countries.

Once the bill leaves the Committee of the Judiciary, it will (hopefully) be up for a vote in both houses. At this time it will be important to- again- urge your Representatives and Senators to vote for the passage of the bill.

 

Finally, please make sure to express your appreciation and gratitude to those legislators who already took action (see below). This will let your legislators know that you are genuinely concerned about the issue, as well as realize the importance of the bill to our community. They would like to hear from you and will appreciate your support.

 

These are the co-sponsors of the bill that are friendly towards Polonia: Rep. Shelley Berkley [D-NV], Rep. Brian Higgins [D-NY], Rep. Duncan Hunter [R-CA], Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D-OH], Rep. Daniel Lipinski [D-IL], Rep. William (Bill) Pascrell, Jr. [D-NJ], Rep. Jared Polis [D-CO], Rep. Janice (Jan) Schakowsky [D-IL], Rep. John Shimkus [R-IL].

About your Representatives: www.house.gov or by calling (202) 224-3121

About your Senators: www.senate.gov or by calling (202) 224-3121