[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 93 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H6207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PASSPORT PROCESSING BACKLOG

  (Mr. LAMPSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LAMPSON. Madam Speaker, on Friday I joined Congressman Green, who 
just spoke, and Congresswoman Jackson-Lee, who will speak shortly, at 
the Houston passport office.
  Some people had been in line for hours, and some of them had driven 
hundreds of miles. Most were frustrated and confused. Many had applied 
months ago to comply with the new passport laws, but the last Congress 
failed to provide Federal agencies the resources they need to uphold 
our laws.
  These passport delays have inconvenienced thousands across our 
country. Some State Department estimates range up to 12 weeks or even 
longer to process passport applications, forcing some people to either 
cancel travel plans or lose deposits.
  We can't have homeland security without adequate resources. It is not 
enough to talk tough, we must follow through. The State Department has 
said that it would temporarily suspend the law to some countries so 
Americans can take their trips. Forcing agencies to suspend laws 
because they lack the capacity to enforce them sets a dangerous 
precedent.
  We need more agents to provide border security, customs and 
immigration enforcement officers and Federal prosecutors and 
immigration judges to uphold our laws. Let's fix this problem now 
before it gets much worse.

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