BACKGROUND:
H.R. 2526
On May 24, 2007, Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced H.R. 2526 to designate Greece as a program country for the visa waiver program. This legislation will allow Greek citizens to visit the U.S.A. without a visa. Currently, Greece is the only original EU country and who is also part of Schengen (allowing freedom of movement between EU countries) that its citizens require a visa to enter the USA.
The 37 cosponsors for H.R. 2526 are Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Robert Wexler (D-FL), and Elton Gallegly (R-CA), Zachary Space (D-OH), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Robert Wexler (D-FL), Shelly Berkley (D-NV), James McGovern (D-MA), Diane Watson (D-CA), Henry Brown, Jr. (R-SC), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Lincoln Diaz-Balart (F-FL), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Barbara Lee (D-CA), William Jefferson (D-LA), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), William Lacy Clay (D-MO), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), James Langevin (D-RI), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Luis Fortuno (R-Puerto Rico), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
The American Hellenic Institute urges you to contact your representative to cosponsor and
support H.R. 2526.
ACTION REQUESTED -- CALL, FAX, or E-MAIL:
1. To cosponsor H.R. 2526
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HR 2526 IH
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2526
To designate Greece as a program country for purposes of the visa waiver program established under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 24, 2007
Mrs. MALONEY of New York (for herself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. SPACE, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. WEXLER, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. MCGOVERN, Ms. WATSON, Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. LEE, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. CLAY, Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. CROWLEY, and Ms. ESHOO) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
________________________________________
A BILL
To designate Greece as a program country for purposes of the visa waiver program established under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Founding Fathers of the United States drew heavily on the political experience and philosophy of ancient Greece in forming our representative democracy.
(2) Greece played a major role in the World War II struggle to protect freedom and democracy through such bravery as was shown in the historic Battle of Crete, which provided the Axis land war with its first major setback, setting off a chain of events that significantly affected the outcome of World War II.
(3) Throughout the 20th century Greece was one of three countries in the world, besides the former British Empire, that allied with the United States in every major international conflict.
(4) Greece has been a reliable partner in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization since joining in 1952.
(5) In 1981, Greece became one of the 15 original European Union member countries, and in January 2001, successfully acceded to the Eurozone.
(6) Among all candidate countries for entry in the visa waiver program, Greece constitutes a separate and unique case in that it is the only country, among the candidates, that meets all technical requirements for inclusion in the program.
(7) Greece requires only a valid passport for American citizens visiting it and not a visa.
(8) Greece has less than the maximum allowable 3 percent rate for refusals of U.S. non-immigrant visitor visa applications.
(9) As of January 1, 2007, Greek passports issued prior to January 1, 2006, are no longer valid for travel. Therefore, Greek nationals are traveling with new, machine-readable passports that are produced using state-of-the-art technology (biometrics) to meet the highest possible security standards and specifications.
(10) Greece is one of fifteen European nations accepted as a Schengen country which allows for travel through Europe as if you are traveling throughout the United States. Greece is the only Schengen country excluded from participating in the visa waiver program.
(11) Countries included in the visa waiver program with similar demographics and economic relations with the United States as Greece have 50 percent more visitors to the United States due to their visa waiver status.
(12) More than 50,000 Greek citizens visit the United States each year.
(13) There are 1.3 million American citizens of Greek ancestry residing in the United States.
(14) The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State administer the visa waiver program, which allows citizens from 27 countries, including all of the original 15 European Union members except Greece, to visit the United States as tourists without visas.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATING GREECE A VISA WAIVER PROGRAM COUNTRY.
Effective on the date of the enactment of this Act, and notwithstanding section 217(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187(c)), Greece shall be deemed a designated program country for purposes of the visa waiver program established under section 217 of such Act.
END
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How to Contact Your Representative:
To Contact your U.S. Representative by mail:
U.S. House of Representatives:
1. Write to:
The Honorable____________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
To Contact your U.S. Representative by phone:
1. Dial 202-224-3121 (general number) and ask the operator to connect to your
Congressman¢s office.
To Contact your U.S. Representative by fax:
1. Visit http://www.house.gov/Welcome.html
2. Enter your zip code
3. Click on the link to your representative¢s web site
4. Locate the “Contact” or “Constituent Services” button on your representative¢s Web site to find the fax number for your representative¢s office.
To Contact your U.S. Representative Via E-mail:
1. Visit www.house.gov/writerep
2. Enter your state and zip code
3. Fill out the electronic form of your name and address
4. Write and submit your message
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