OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Waiving Passport Fees For Relatives of Deceased Members of Armed Forces

Date: March 14, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Military Personnel Veterans Family


WAIVING PASSPORT FEES FOR RELATIVES OF DECEASED MEMBERS OF ARMED FORCES -- (Extensions of Remarks - March 15, 2006)
SPEECH OF HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE OF TEXAS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2006

* Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1184, a bill that would waive the passport fees for a relative of a deceased member of the Armed Forces who is proceeding abroad to visit the grave of such member or to attend a funeral or memorial service for such member.

* The current United States passport fee is $97.00 for adults and $82.00 for children under 16. Present law allows waivers for a widow, child, parent, brother or sister to visit a grave. The proposed bill would expand the waiver to include grandparents, and it would add funerals and memorial services as well as grave site visits.

* At a time of such grieving for a lost service member, the family of the fallen hero should not have to worry about paying passport fees, which can add up quickly for a family. Waiving the fee in such cases is the least that we can do.

* I urge you to vote for this bill.

http://thomas.loc.gov

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