Labrador backs House visa vote

From Dan Popkey, press secretary for Congressman Raul Labrador:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Raúl Labrador, R-Idaho, issued the following statement following today’s 407-19 House vote for H.R. 158, the Visa Waiver Program and Terrorist Travel Protection Act: “This bill is a good first step in securing our borders and strengthening visa processes. While the Visa Waiver Program is a cornerstone of our foreign policy, we cannot let it be abused by those who seek to harm Americans. “H.R. 158 prevents individuals who were present in countries of concern — including Iran, Iraq and Syria — on or after March 1, 2011, from entering the United States without first obtaining a visa. It also targets fraud and requires collection of new information, including all current or past citizenship. Still more must be done to ensure our security, but I am proud to have been a part of this effort and will continue to work on this important issue.”

• House votes overwhelmingly to restrict Visa waivers for travelers /The Hill