Gillibrand Supports Legislation to Ease Passport Backlog

Press Release

Gillibrand Supports Legislation to Ease Passport Backlog

Yesterday, local Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand voted to pass the bipartisan Passport Backlog Reduction Act [S. 966]. This legislation passed in the Senate last month and will now head to the President for his signature. S.966 allows the State Department to temporarily rehire retired employees who have already been trained to process passport applications.

"My office has heard from hundreds of people throughout the district who have been put in a bind by an overwhelmed State Department. This is a common-sense approach to a problem that has burdened upstate families. It is simply unacceptable that personal and work travel has been delayed or ruined because of the tremendous backlog for routine passport applications," said Congresswoman Gillibrand. "Having retired Foreign Service workers process the surplus of passport applications will give flexibility to the State Department, in addition to allowing these retired workers the necessary incentives to temporarily return to work."

In 2007, the State Department is expected to issue over 17 million passports, up significantly from 10.1 million passports issues in 2005. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) has caused demand for passports to skyrocket. The WHTI mandated that- as of January 23, 2007- all air travel passengers need to have a passport when flying to Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda. Since the backlog, the State Department has said they will accept proof of passport application until September 30, 2007. In addition, all sea and land passengers will need to have a passport to travel to Canada or Mexico in the future. Congresswoman Gillibrand has opposed the portion of the WHTI that requires a passport to cross the northern border.

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