December, 09 2015, 07:30am EDT
NIAC Action Deeply Concerned by House Passage Discriminatory Visa Waiver Program Bill
WASHINGTON
NIAC Action Executive Director Jamal Abdi issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 158, a bill reforming the visa waiver program and containing discriminatory measures targeting Iranian dual nationals:
"Unfortunately, the House of Representatives took a page from Donald Trump today and voted for legislation that discriminates against certain dual nationals by barring them from the visa waiver program. Under the bill, dual nationals from Iraq, Syria, Iran and Sudan would be barred from entering the country without a visa, in addition to any citizens who have visited those countries in the past five years. This proposal will not make our country safer, it compromises our core values and risks discriminating against American citizens."If this bill passes into law, the European Union has warned that it will consider travel restrictions targeting American citizens because the visa waiver program operates on the system of reciprocity. This could mean that a second tier of American citizens, including Iranian Americans, would be forced to apply for a visa to travel to many nations in Europe and other eligible countries.
"We hope the Senate revises this legislation so that it does not discriminate on the basis of national origin or risk triggering unequal treatment of American citizens traveling abroad by rejecting this backward proposal."
The National Iranian American Council (NIAC) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 2002 to give voice to the Iranian-American community. From being the trusted voice on U.S.- Iran relations, to pushing forth legislation that protects individuals of Iranian heritage from systematic discrimination, to celebrating our cultural heritage, NIAC creates a lasting impact in the lives of the members of our community.
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Cochrane partnered with a colleague to make hats and shirts emblazoned with the phrase, "Canada is not for sale," one of which was worn by Ontario Premier Doug Ford last week.
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Texas Republican Keithself storms out of the meeting he's supposed to be running because a Democrat asked him to treat his colleague Sarah McBride with respect. These people would not last one day as a trans person.
[image or embed]
— Ari Drennen (@aridrennen.bsky.social) March 11, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Self, a 71-year old former Army colonel and county judge, replied that "we have set the standard on the floor of the House."
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Self then adjourned the hearing. He later explained on social media that "it is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female," a reference to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on the first day back in office.
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