Houston, June 22, 2015
The Honorable Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator
 404 Russell, Washington, DC 20510 

Dear Senator Cruz,
I hope this letter finds you and your family well. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your service to our nation.  I am Polish-American, here please insert (if you want) a short information about yourself, who you are, where do you work, what position you are holding, about your family and where are you from.
I am writing this personal letter to ask and encourage you to support and co-sponsor of H.R. 1401, the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act of 2015. This, I believe, important legislation, which enjoys broad support in the private sector as well as bipartisan support in the Congress, would stimulate international tourism to the United States by expanding the Visa Waiver Program ( VWP). 
The Visa Waiver Program enables citizens from participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business and stay up to 90 days without necessity to obtain the U.S. visa. Creation of the program was designed to eliminate unnecessary barriers to travel, stimulate the tourism industry and permit the Department of State to focus consular services in higher risk areas. The United States citizens have enjoyed 90 day visa-free travel to Poland since 1991 when Lech Walesa, than the President of Poland unilaterally opened the doors of Poland to Americans. Regrettably, today Poland remains the only European Union member of the Schengen Zone (which was created to promote visa free travel across the EU), that is not a member of the VWP. 
Now is the time to act!  Please help to include Poland - one of America’s strongest allies - into the WVP.  As you know, Poland, in recent years, has been a shining example of economic and democratic success, there are 10 million Polish Americans calling the United States home.  There are 250 000 Polish- Americans in Texas.  There are unique historic links between our two countries which have grown to strong modern political, cultural and military alliances. In recent years Poland has committed its military to support the U.S. efforts to bring stability to Iraq and Afghanistan and as a member of NATO enjoys protection of the United States. 
Including Poland in the VWP not only strengthens that alliance but supports nearly 61 000 additional American jobs simply by allowing Polish visitors to travel visa-free to the U.S. for up to 90 days.  The VWP also bolsters U.S national security, promotes tourism and increases commerce.  Countries that participate in the program agree to increase information sharing and collaboration in counterterrorism and border control. 
The U.S Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Travel Association, the American Hotel and Lodging Association and the National Retail Federation all support H.R. 1401.  I ask you to join Representatives Joe Heck (R-NV) and Mike Quigley (D-IL) by becoming co-sponsor of this important and timely legislation that finally welcomes Poland into the program and allows even greater cooperation between our two great nations. 
Your prompts attention to this matter would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to your response and thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely