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

H.R. 5233 · 118th Congress · Aug 18, 2023 · Lineage

A BILL

Section 1 Definitions

In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1)
Appropriate congressional committees— The term “appropriate congressional committees” means the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.
(2)
Department— The term “Department” means the Department of State.
(3)
Secretary— The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of State.

Sec. 2 Passport fee expenditure authority extension

(a)
Western hemisphere travel initiative fee— To make permanent the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative fee, section 1(b) of the Passport Act of June 4, 1920, (22 U.S.C. 214(b)(1)) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), by striking “(1)”; and
(2)
by striking paragraphs (2) and (3).
(b)
Passport fees— Section 1(b) of the Passport Act of June 4, 1920, as amended by subsection (a), shall be applied through fiscal year 2028 by striking “such costs” and inserting “the costs of providing consular services”.
(c)
Modernization of passport processing— A portion of the expanded expenditure authorities provided in subsections (a) and (b) shall be used—
(1)
to modernize consular systems, with an emphasis on passport and citizenship services; and
(2)
towards a feasibility study on how the Department could provide urgent, in-person passport services to significant populations with the longest travel times to existing passport agencies, including the possibility of building new passport agencies.

Sec. 3 Special hiring authority for passport services

During the 3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, without regard to the provisions under sections 3309 through 3318 of title 5, United States Code, may directly appoint candidates to positions in the competitive service (as defined in section 2102 of such title) at the Department in the Passport and Visa Examining Series 0967.

Sec. 4 Quarterly report on passport wait times

Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter for the following 3 years, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes—
(1)
the current estimated wait times for passport processing;
(2)
the steps that have been taken by the Department to reduce wait times to a reasonable time;
(3)
efforts to improve the rollout of the online passport renewal processing program, including how much of passport revenues the Department is spending on consular systems modernization;
(4)
the demand for urgent passport services by major metropolitan area;
(5)
the steps that have been taken by the Department to reduce and meet the demand for urgent passport services, particularly in areas that are greater than 5 hours driving time from the nearest passport agency; and
(6)
how the Department details its staff and resources to passport services programs.

Sec. 5 Passport travel advisories

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Department shall make prominently available in United States regular passports, on the first 3 pages of the passport, the following information:
(1)
A prominent, clear advisory for all travelers to check travel.state.gov for updated travel warnings and advisories.
(2)
A prominent, clear notice urging all travelers to register with the Department prior to overseas travel.
(3)
A prominent, clear advisory—
(A)
noting that many countries deny entry to travelers during the last 6 months of their passport validity period; and
(B)
urging all travelers to renew their passport not later than 1 year prior to its expiration.

Sec. 6 Strategy to ensure access to passport services for all Americans

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a strategy to the appropriate congressional committees, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives for ensuring reasonable access to passport services for all Americans, which shall include—
(1)
a detailed strategy describing how the Department could—
(A)
by not later than 1 year after submission of the strategy, reduce passport processing times to an acceptable average for renewals and for expedited service; and
(B)
by not later than 2 years after the submission of the strategy, provide United States residents living in a significant population center more than a 5-hour drive from a passport agency with urgent, in-person passport services, including the possibility of building new passport agencies; and
(2)
a description of the specific resources required to implement the strategy.

Sec. 7 Strengthening the national passport information center

(a)
Sense of congress— It is the sense of Congress that passport wait times since 2021 have been unacceptably long and have created frustration among those seeking to obtain or renew passports.
(b)
Online chat feature— The Department should develop an online tool with the capability for customers to correspond with customer service representatives regarding questions and updates pertaining to their application for a passport or for the renewal of a passport.
(c)
Gao report— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall initiate a review of NPIC operations, which shall include an analysis of the extent to which NPIC—
(1)
responds to constituent inquiries by telephone, including how long constituents are kept on hold and their ability to be placed in a queue;
(2)
provides personalized customer service;
(3)
maintains its telecommunications infrastructure to ensure it effectively handles call volumes; and
(4)
other relevant issues the Comptroller General deems appropriate.

Sec. 8 Strengthening passport customer visibility and transparency

(a)
Online status tool— Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Department should modernize the online passport application status tool to include, to the greatest extent possible, step by step updates on the status of their application, including with respect to the following stages:
(1)
Submitted for processing.
(2)
In process at a lockbox facility.
(3)
Awaiting adjudication.
(4)
In process of adjudication.
(5)
Adjudicated with a result of approval or denial.
(6)
Materials shipped.
(b)
Additional information— The tool pursuant to subsection (a) should include a display that informs each passport applicant of—
(1)
the date on which his or her passport application was received; and
(2)
the estimated wait time remaining in the passport application process.
(c)
Report— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that outlines a plan for coordinated comprehensive public outreach to increase public awareness and understanding of—
(1)
the online status tool required under subsection (a);
(2)
passport travel advisories required under section 4; and
(3)
passport wait times.