WASHINGTON —  U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) today intensified his push to reform the Visa Waiver Program by cosponsoring a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). Murphy, who is Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, first announced he was working with Sen. Feinstein at a press conference last month. The Visa Waiver Program Security Enhancement Act denies visa waivers to individuals who have traveled to Iraq or Syria within the previous five years, denies participation to countries that refuse to comply with law enforcement information sharing requirements, demands new biometric data from travelers before they enter the U.S., and requires e-passport information and biometric data to be readable by U.S law enforcement.

“As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, keeping Connecticut safe is my number one priority. This bill is a common sense step Congress can take to prevent an attack here at home,” said Murphy. “After the terrorist attack in Paris, it is abundantly clear that we need to strengthen the screening process for the 20 million foreign visitors who come into this country each year through the Visa Waiver Program. I strongly urge my colleagues to quickly pass this bill and take further action to ensure terrorists don’t attack us here.”

On Monday, Murphy reiterated his call for Congress to take action: “While some wish to close our borders and send families fleeing terrorism back into the grips of their tormentors, I was sent to Congress to confront America’s challenges smartly and strategically, not impulsively. That’s why I’m calling on Congress to update and strengthen the Visa Waiver Program. That’s a critical step we can take to prevent an attack on our shores.” 

Cosponsors of the Visa Waiver Program Security Enhancement Act include U.S. Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Angus King (I-Maine), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.).