VISA WAIVER LEGISLATION PASSES SENATE

To Members and Friends of the Polish American Congress and of the Polish
American Community:

PAC Washington D.C., March 14 - Yesterday the U.S. Senate passed, by a vote
of 60 to 38, the bill S. 4 – "Improving America's Security by Implementing
Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007."

This is very important legislation for the American Polonia as the bill
includes a provision that would allow Poland to become a pilot country in
the Visa Waiver Program.

There was almost no discussion on the provision, except for an amendment
offered by Senator Diane Feinstein (S. Amdt. 275) in which she proposed that
the country's participation be conditioned on the rates of refusal rate
(less than 10 percent)and overstays. (For details please see the
announcements issued by the Offices of Senators Voinovich and Mikulski. For
your convenience we included their full texts at the end of this Release.)

During the last weeks, the Polish American Congress has been asking its
members and friends to contact their Senators and urge them to vote in favor
of this legislation and to retain the important provision in the text of
S.4. We take this occasion to thank all those individuals who have joined in
support of this legislation.
However, even though success is near, it is not the end of Polonia's efforts
to ensure that the legislation is signed into the law.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an equivalent bill (H.R. 1) very
early in the session - on January 9, 2007. However, since the House version
of the bill is significantly different from the Senate bill--for example it
does not include the VWP provision--selected members of the U.S. Congress
from both houses will have to meet in a conference committee to reconcile
the differences between the two bills.

Neither date nor composition of the committee are known as yet. As soon as
the list of participants, both in the House and in the Senate, becomes
available, the Polish American Congress will instantly issue an action alert
and request your assistance.

For us, the Polish Americans, it will be another important opportunity to
ensure that the VWP provision is not removed from the legislation. Members
and Friends of the Polish American community will need to again raise their
voices in support of this important legislation.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contacts: Chris Paulitz or Garrette Silverman
(202) 224-7784

March 13, 2007

SEN. VOINOVICH’S VISA WAIVER LEGISLATION PASSES SENATE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the full Senate voted for passage of S. 4, the
Improving America's Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of
the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. The bill includes an amendment authored by
U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH) that extends visa-free travel
privileges to our allies in the Global War on Terror. The amendment, called
the Secure Travel and Counterterrorism Partnership Act of 2007, will improve
cooperation with key allies while strengthening U.S. national security
interests and promoting U.S. economic competitiveness. The bill was passed
by a vote of 60 to 38.

“This is wonderful news for the Unites States and its allies,” Sen.
Voinovich said. “I strongly believe we must maintain strong relations with
our friends who are helping us fight the Global War on Terror. This
legislation will improve both our national and economic security while
helping to solidify relationships and improve good will toward the United
States for years to come.”

Sen. Voinovich’s amendment authorizes the Department of Homeland Security,
in consultation with the Department of State, to expand the Visa Waiver
Program (VWP) to countries that support the United States and are prepared
to do everything in their power to help keep terrorists from crossing our
borders. Countries would be eligible to participate in the program only
after the executive branch certifies that they do not pose a security or law
enforcement threat to the United States.

The legislation would make the travel security standards and passport
policies safer than they would otherwise be for participating countries.
Security requirements for participation include biometric passports, strict
passenger screening through an e-travel authorization system, passenger
information exchanges, strict reporting of lost or stolen passports, airport
and baggage security and agreements for home country repatriation of any
visitors who violate U.S. laws. The provision will also require the
Department of Homeland Security to monitor when VWP participants exit the
country and improve procedures for measuring any potential overstays, to
ensure compliance with the program.

“Our current visa policy is discouraging hundreds of thousands of peaceful
and well-meaning people from visiting the United States for business and
pleasure,” Sen. Voinovich said. “By severely limiting legitimate travel to
the United States, we are dampening international good will and losing
economic opportunities totaling millions of dollars.

“In addition to promoting U.S. national security interests, this legislation
will increase business ties and tourism, benefiting our economy and
competitiveness for years to come. This is a smart move that will advance
America’s strategic interests.”

The VWP was established in 1986 to improve relations with U.S. allies and
benefit the U.S. economy. The program permits nationals from selected
countries to enter the United States for tourism or business without a visa
for up to 90 days. Currently, 27 countries participate in the program.

Although numerous countries have expressed a desire to participate in the
VWP, and a willingness to cooperate with the necessary security
requirements, no new countries have been admitted since 1999. President Bush
recently called on Congress to expand the VWP to deserving nations and has
previously identified 13 “Road Map” countries as potential candidates for
future participation. These include Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania,
Slovakia and South Korea.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 13, 2007

CONTACT: Melissa Schwartz
202-228-1122

MIKULSKI SAYS SENATE PASSAGE OF VISA WAIVER PROGRAM EASES PATH FOR
POLAND

"The United States is blessed with few allies as stalwart as Poland."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today applauded the
Senate's passage of the Improving America's Security Act of 2007 (S.4),
which includes her proposal with Senator George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio) that
would authorize an expansion of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

"I have fought for years to expand the VWP so our allies can visit family
and conduct business in the United States without standing in line to get a
visa," said Senator Mikulski. "We know that our borders will be no less
secure because of these visitors. But we know that our alliances will be
more secure because of this legislation. "

As a condition for program participation, all participants would implement
enhanced travel security requirements, negotiate new agreements on
counterterrorism cooperation, and demonstrate their close cooperation with
the United States in the Global War on Terror.

The bill also includes an amendment by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)
that stipulates that countries applying to the VWP must either have a visa
refusal rate below 10 percent (up from the current requirement of 3 percent)
or their rate of visitors overstaying their visit must be below the cap that
would be set by the Departments of Homeland Security and State. A visa
refusal rate refers to the percentage of applicants refused visas. Poland's
visa refusal rate has been an obstacle for its inclusion, but the overstay
rate proposal offers a new alternative for inclusion.

Senator Mikulski has fought - and introduced several bipartisan proposals -
to have Poland added to the VWP, citing Poland's importance as a close U.S.
ally. Polish troops have been fighting alongside American troops since the
start of the War in Iraq, with nearly 1,000 Polish troops still on the
ground.

"The United States is blessed with few allies as stalwart as Poland. But we
tell a grandmother in Gdansk she needs a visa to visit her grandchildren in
America," said Senator Mikulski. "Poland is a NATO ally and a member of the
European Union. But America's visa policy still treats Poland as a
second-class citizen."

The VWP was established in 1986 as a pilot program to promote better
relations with U.S. allies. Currently, 27 countries participate in the VWP.
Statutory requirements for program participation include criteria concerning
immigration patterns, security and law enforcement, reciprocal visa-free
travel for U.S. citizens, as well as passports that are machine-readable.

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Tel: (202) 296-6955
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