H.R. 187: Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act of 2017

115th Congress · introduced 2017-01-03 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-01-03 · official record
Who proposed it: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act of 2017

Plain summary

Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act of 2017 This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a visa waiver program for the United States Virgin Islands for individuals who are a national of a country that is a member or an associate member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) listed in regulations under this Act and who apply for admission as a nonimmigrant business or pleasure visitor solely for entry into and stay in the United States Virgin Islands for not more than 30 days, if the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) determines that such waiver does not represent a threat to the welfare or security of the United States or its territories and commonwealths. DHS shall suspend the admission of nationals of a country if DHS determines that: (1) such admissions have resulted in an unacceptable number of visitors remaining unlawfully in the United States Virgin Islands, unlawfully obtaining entry to other parts of the United States, or seeking withholding of removal or asylum; or (2) visitors from such country pose a risk to law enforcement or security interests of the United States Virgin Islands or of the United States. DHS is authorized to suspend the program at any time, on a country-by-country basis, for other good cause. The bill provides for the addition of program countries.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act of 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large] · 5 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL)

Sponsor's campaign money: Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large] reported raising $712,670 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (4)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr187.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr187 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115