Passport Services Enhancement Act of 2005

PASSPORT SERVICES ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - December 18, 2005)

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Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this bill represents a bipartisan and bicameral measure. We have worked with our colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to draft a bill that will assist the State Department in meeting the ever-increasing demand for U.S. passports. The 9/11 bill required that Americans carry a passport when reentering the United States from travel to countries in the Western Hemisphere. This requirement is greatly increasing the demand for passport services.

This bill, which has been approved by OMB, will allow the State Department to collect and retain a surcharge of approximately $5 to $8 on each passport. Because the State Department expects there to be a decline in the actual cost of issuing each passport, there will not be an increase in the current price for issuing passports, which is now $97.

Presently, the U.S. Treasury receives the revenues from fees charged for the issuance of a passport. As a result of this legislation, the State Department will keep part of the passport fee. The bill narrowly defines the uses permitted of the proceeds from this surcharge. It is for the cost of additional personnel, mailing and similar operational costs that are necessary to keep up with the increased passport workload. The authority for the Department to collect this surcharge will expire in the year 2010. Congress will be able to assess whether this surcharge continues to be necessary.

This is an important measure that has been requested by the Secretary of State, and the text has been worked out between the majority and the minority of both the House International Relations Committee and the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. I urge support for H.R. 4501, as amended.

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