# What This Bill Does: Fixing America's Passport Problem

This bill tackles a real frustration many Americans have experienced—long waits to get or renew passports. Since 2021, passport processing times have become unacceptably long, leaving people stuck when they need to travel. This legislation gives the State Department more money and flexibility to fix the problem, while also making the passport process more transparent and accessible.

The bill does several practical things. First, it lets the State Department keep and spend more of the fees people pay for passports—instead of sending that money elsewhere, it can now use passport revenues specifically to modernize its computer systems and hire more staff to process applications faster. The department gets special hiring authority for three years to quickly bring on passport examiners without going through the usual lengthy government hiring process. Second, the bill requires the State Department to study whether it should build new passport agencies in areas where people have to drive more than five hours to reach one, recognizing that rural and remote Americans face real hardship getting urgent passport services. Third, it mandates that the department improve its online tools so you can actually track where your application is in the process, step by step, instead of just seeing vague status updates.

The bill also requires better communication with the public. Passports will now include prominent warnings to check travel advisories before leaving the country and reminders to register with the State Department before traveling abroad. Additionally, the bill requires quarterly reports to Congress about wait times and what's being done to reduce them, plus a government audit of the passport information center's phone system to see why people can't get through. These transparency requirements keep pressure on the State Department to actually deliver improvements rather than just promising them.

To amend the Passport Act of June 4, 1920, to make certain improvements with respect to expenditure and other authorities, and for other purposes.

Carter, Earl L. "Buddy"

This bill requires various changes to the passport application process and addresses related issues.The bill requires all U.S. regular passports to contain a written notice advising travelers (1) to check travel.state.gov for updated travel warnings, (2) to register with the Department of State prior to overseas travel, (3) that many countries deny entry to travelers whose passport expires within six months, and (4) to renew their passports within at least one year of the expiration date.&nbsp;Further, the bill makes permanent&nbsp;existing State Department authority to assess a surcharge on the passport application fee to cover the costs of increased demand prompted by certain legal requirements. This authority currently expires on September 30, 2026.&nbsp;For three years starting from this bill's enactment,&nbsp;the State Department&nbsp;may use direct hire authority to expedite the hiring of individuals into Passport and Visa Examining positions (Series 0967).Finally, the bill requires the Department of State to report to&nbsp;Congress about passport processing wait times, agency plans for a public outreach campaign, and related information.