110 HR 2745 IH: To refund passport processing fees and international U.S. House of Representatives 2007-06-15 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2745 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 15, 2007 Mr. Cooper introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To refund passport processing fees and international travel costs as a result of unreasonable delays in passport application processing times, and for other purposes.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Passport and Travel Cost Reimbursement Act of 2007.
2.
Findings
Congress finds the following: (1)The Department of State has failed to anticipate the increased level of demand for passports after implementing new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative rules required by Congress. (2)This failure has cost United States citizens many thousands of dollars in unused or cancelled transportation, accommodation, and tour reservations. (3)The Department’s proposal to refund fees for failed expedited processing provides insufficient relief to citizens who lost large sums of money through no fault of their own. (4)The United States Government has an obligation to deal honestly and fairly with all individuals who come into contact with it, and to remedy any hardship that arises as a result of its negligence.
3.
Refund of passport processing fees
(a)
In general
The Secretary of State shall refund to an eligible United States citizen the fee paid by such citizen in connection with a properly completed and submitted application for a United States passport if such citizen applied or applies for such passport at any time between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2007, and the time for processing of such passport with respect to such citizen took— (1)12 or more weeks in the case of a regular application; or (2)3 or more weeks in the case of an expedited application. (b)
Application for refund
To be eligible to receive a refund under subsection (a), a United States citizen shall submit to the Secretary an application for a refund at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
4.
Refund of international travel costs
(a)
In general
The Secretary of State shall refund to a United States citizen eligible for a refund of a passport processing fee under section 3 the cost incurred by such citizen for payment for an economy-class or comparable ticket, subject to subsection (b), on an international flight departing from a point in the United States if such flight was or is scheduled to depart at any time between January 23, 2007, and December 31, 2007, and if such citizen was or is unable to travel aboard such flight because such citizen was or is unable to timely acquire a passport and such citizen missed or cancelled such flight (b)
Reduction in amount of refund
(1)
In general
The Secretary shall reduce the travel cost refund under subsection (a) by an amount equal to the amount that the airline operating the flight on which such citizen was scheduled to travel has refunded to such citizen as a result of such citizen’s inability to travel aboard such flight, in accordance with the refund policies of such airline. (2)
Business-class or first-class ticket
A citizen who submits an application for a refund under this section shall be limited to a refund in an amount equal to the cost of an economy-class or comparable ticket for the international flight on which such citizen was or is unable to travel, subject to any reduction under paragraph (1). (c)
Information
The Secretary shall request from airlines a list of United States citizens who paid for tickets for international travel with such airlines but who did not travel with such airlines during the time period specified in subsection (a). (d)
Application for refund
To be eligible to receive a refund under subsection (a), a United States citizen shall submit to the Secretary an application for a refund at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
5.
Additional assistance for certain individuals
The Secretary of State is authorized to provide to a United States citizen who is eligible for a refund under sections 3 and 4 assistance if the Secretary determines that such citizen has suffered an extraordinary financial hardship, such as any provable tour costs, as a result of a delay in passport application processing times and missed or cancelled international travel.
6.
Certification
The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State may not implement the plan required under section 7209(b) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108–458; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note) with respect to the establishment of a single implementation date for sea and land borders until such time as such Secretaries have submitted to Congress in writing a certification that the passport agencies of the Department of State are able to process applications for passports with minimal disruption to the travel plans of United States citizens.