House Engrossed

State of Arizona House of Representatives Forty-eighth Legislature First Regular Session 2007

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 2007

 

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 

expressing support for the placement of poland on the visa waiver program list.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, pursuant to 8 United States Code section 1187, the Visa Waiver Program was established under the joint auspices of the former Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Department of Justice and the United States Department of State; and

Whereas, since the program’s establishment, responsibility for visa regulations, in accordance with section 428 of Public Law 107-296, commonly referred to as the U.S. Patriot Act, has been transferred to the United States Department of Homeland Security; and

Whereas, the program provides that citizens of designated nations may enter the United States without a visa if they have a valid passport, are visiting the United States for not more than 90 days, show a return transportation ticket to their own country on entering the United States and are not disqualified for any reason from entering this country; and

Whereas, 8 Code of Federal Regulations part 217 delineates the specific requirements of the Visa Waiver Program, including the list of countries whose citizens may avail themselves of its provisions; and

Whereas, these nations include Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom; and

Whereas, missing from this list of nations is Poland, a country that has been a staunch ally of the United States during the hostilities in Iraq and whose soldiers have fought bravely in military missions under United States command; and

Whereas, since the disintegration of the former Soviet Union, Poland has been a free and democratic nation and has been granted membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, better known as NATO; and

Whereas, the individuals who take advantage of the Visa Waiver program are frequently the relatives of American citizens who are traveling to this country for important family events such as weddings, funerals and graduations; and

Whereas, the complex procedures required for obtaining a visa to enter the United States, especially since September 11, 2001, have proven to be a major impediment for upstanding Polish citizens to either celebrate with or provide consolation to family members during some of life’s most pivotal moments; and

Whereas, in light of Poland’s enormous democratic strides during recent years and its staunch support for the United States at a time when other nations, including some on the Visa Waiver Program list, are openly criticizing this country, it is only fair that Poland be placed on the Visa Waiver Program list with a status equivalent to all other nations already listed.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

1.  That the Legislature express its strong support for the placement of Poland on the Visa Waiver Program list as codified at 8 Code of Federal Regulations section 217.2.

2.  That the Secretary of State transmit a copy of this Resolution to the Secretary of Homeland Security, each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona and the president of the Polish American Congress.