Odd Ball HCM2008 - 552R - H Ver of HCM2008

House Engrossed

Romania; visa waiver program

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2022

HOUSE CONCURRENT MEMORIAL 2008

A Concurrent Memorial

urging the United States Congress to allow the participation of romania in the visa waiver program.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

To the Congress of the United States of America and the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security:

Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, Romania has been a stable and flourishing multiparty democracy since the end of communism in 1989; and

Whereas, Romania has a fast-growing, market-oriented economy and is a major economic partner of the United States; and

Whereas, Romania is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), meets its defense spending benchmarks and is an active player in regional security; and

Whereas, Romania is an important United States regional security ally and is a close partner in the areas of intelligence and joint security; and

Whereas, Romania has been described as a "stalwart NATO ally" by United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and called a role model ally by senior defense officials; and

Whereas, the Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of approved countries to travel without a visa to the United States for stays of up to 90 days; and

Whereas, despite the close United States-Romanian relationship, Romania remains one of only three European Union countries that are not in the Visa Waiver Program; and

Whereas, Romania's exclusion from the program hampers closer economic, cultural, political and security ties between our two countries.

Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:

1. That the United States Congress make changes to the Visa Waiver Program to allow Romania to become a participating country.

2. That the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security work closely with Romanian officials to quickly bring Romania into the Visa Waiver Program.

3. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona and the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security.