Tourism officials: Toughen visa rules
By Scott Powers
July 16, 2002
KISSIMMEE (Orlando Sentinel)-- Tourism would benefit if American visas were tougher for foreigners to get, area officials told a congressional hearing Monday.
Law-enforcement officers and tourism advocates from Orange and Osceola counties told a congressional hearing that they want homeland security to be the overriding consideration when U.S. officials decide who should get visas to visit the United States. That would make both domestic and foreign tourists feel more secure, they said.
"Some may argue that a thorough visa-review process will create delays that would be detrimental to the tourism industry," said Mike Horner, president of the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce. "I would argue that nothing would be more harmful than another terrorist attack."
On Monday, U.S. Reps. Dave Weldon, R-Melbourne, and Ric Keller, R-Orlando, came here looking for such support. Weldon is pushing a proposal to transfer the nation's visa program for foreign visitors out of the Department of State and into the proposed Department of Homeland Security that President Bush asked Congress to establish.
Weldon held a field hearing here of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Civil Service, Census and Agency Organization, which he chairs. He and several witnesses contended that homeland security can get lost among competing diplomatic priorities in the Department of State.
All 19 of the September 11 hijackers received visas, including 15 who got tourist visas.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell vigorously insisted at another congressional hearing last week that the visa system is security-conscious, and that visas are best handled by people who know foreign affairs -- his foreign-service officers.
Last week, two congressional committees agreed, voting to keep the system at the State Department. However, the bill to create a Department of Homeland Security remains a work in progress, probably at least six weeks from completion.
By Scott Powers
July 16, 2002
KISSIMMEE (Orlando Sentinel)-- Tourism would benefit if American visas were tougher for foreigners to get, area officials told a congressional hearing Monday.
Law-enforcement officers and tourism advocates from Orange and Osceola counties told a congressional hearing that they want homeland security to be the overriding consideration when U.S. officials decide who should get visas to visit the United States. That would make both domestic and foreign tourists feel more secure, they said.
"Some may argue that a thorough visa-review process will create delays that would be detrimental to the tourism industry," said Mike Horner, president of the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce. "I would argue that nothing would be more harmful than another terrorist attack."
On Monday, U.S. Reps. Dave Weldon, R-Melbourne, and Ric Keller, R-Orlando, came here looking for such support. Weldon is pushing a proposal to transfer the nation's visa program for foreign visitors out of the Department of State and into the proposed Department of Homeland Security that President Bush asked Congress to establish.
Weldon held a field hearing here of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Civil Service, Census and Agency Organization, which he chairs. He and several witnesses contended that homeland security can get lost among competing diplomatic priorities in the Department of State.
All 19 of the September 11 hijackers received visas, including 15 who got tourist visas.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell vigorously insisted at another congressional hearing last week that the visa system is security-conscious, and that visas are best handled by people who know foreign affairs -- his foreign-service officers.
Last week, two congressional committees agreed, voting to keep the system at the State Department. However, the bill to create a Department of Homeland Security remains a work in progress, probably at least six weeks from completion.
