In a significant development, two Republican lawmakers, Reps. Darrell Issa and Maria Salazar, are leading the charge on a comprehensive reform bill aimed at addressing the long-standing passport processing backlog that has caused difficulties for Americans seeking to travel abroad. The Passport System Reform and Backlog Prevention Act, believed to have a good chance of reaching President Biden’s desk, seeks to reduce processing times for passports, which have remained high since the COVID-19 pandemic led to massive delays.
The authors of the bill argue that the current delay faced by Americans, with passport renewals taking 7-10 weeks for regular processing according to the State Department, is far behind other countries with more efficient online functionality and speed. The processing times skyrocketed during the pandemic and have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, which the authors consider to be unacceptably high.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has acknowledged the significant challenges faced by the State Department in handling both passports and visas due to the plummeting travel demand during the pandemic. The department is still in the process of rebuilding while coping with an enormous surge in demand. In fact, the State Department issued a record 22 million passports in fiscal year 2022, and officials anticipate surpassing that number in 2023.
Rep. Darrell Issa, one of the bill’s lead sponsors, highlighted the urgent need for reforms, stating that the collapse of the passport system has inconvenienced millions of Americans and represents a significant failure on the part of the government. The proposed legislation aims to not only address the backlog issue but also deliver long-overdue modernizations to set the system right for years to come.
Rep. Maria Salazar, another Republican sponsor, expressed her frustration over the passport processing delays and emphasized the need to clean up the mess at the State Department. She argued that forcing American citizens to wait more than three months for a passport is unacceptable, especially considering the four-year duration of the pandemic.
The key objective of the legislation is to reform the system to ensure that U.S. citizens can get their passport renewals within 30 days. This will be achieved by leveraging technology and best practices, setting standards for the government, and allowing the State Department to hire additional personnel to handle consular affairs. The legislation also emphasizes targets related to cybersecurity, affordability, customer service, and geographic accessibility.
The bill proposes the implementation of a dashboard for congressional caseworkers to track their constituents’ passport-related cases, a communication system to provide email and text alerts about passport renewal status, and an app for facilitating these communications. Additionally, it encourages internet-based submissions for both first-time applications and renewals. The legislation also requires the Government Accountability Office to review the passport issuance process and explore potential improvements, including collaboration with other agencies.
Despite being led by Republicans, there is optimism that the bill will garner bipartisan support, as speedier passport processing is an area where both parties can find common ground. In fact, Salesforce, a cloud-based software company specializing in government IT modernization, has expressed support for the bill and its potential to enhance online services. Salesforce believes that modernizing government IT will accelerate the public sector’s digital transformation and ensure easy access to critical services.
Rep. Darrell Issa’s office has expressed confidence in the bill’s prospects, expecting it to clear the committee and pass on the House floor. The lawmakers are hopeful that Democrats will also rally behind the legislation, recognizing the need for efficient passport processing.
This reform bill represents a significant step towards addressing the passport processing backlog and delivering much-needed modernization to the system. If successful, it will not only alleviate the frustrations faced by American citizens but also set the stage for a more streamlined and efficient passport issuance process in the years to come.
