House Agrees to Extend Visa Waivers

The House of Representatives unanimously approved a two-year extension of a visa waiver program that allows about 12 million tourists and business people to enter the U.S. without a visa. The agreement, passed, 407 to 0, extends a reciprocal pact with 26 other nations, and is meant to promote tourism and business exchange with nations like Britain, Japan and Germany and other major U.S. trading partners. An amendment that effectively adds Portugal and Greece to the qualified list of nations eligible for the waiver program passed by a 360-46 margin.