[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 18, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PASSPORT BACKLOG REDUCTION ACT OF 2007

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                               speech of

                          HON. EDWARD R. ROYCE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 16, 2007

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, S. 966 will help provide relief for the 
massive influx of passport applications due to a change in passport 
rules. This problem has frustrated many constituents in all of our 
districts.
  Last week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing 
focusing on this issue. As a result of questions I raised, it became 
apparent to Members of the Committee that the demands on the Bureau of 
Consular Affairs to get passports to Americans as fast as possible does 
raise fraud concerns. While the number of adjudicators has gone up, the 
number charged with investigating passport fraud, has not.
  In that respect, I'd like to thank Chairman Lantos for including 
additional language that would allow for the hiring of retirees to 
assist in investigation of fraud in connection with an application for 
a passport. These additional investigators are critical, as many times 
they uncover a broader fraud ring. We should be able to serve Americans 
in a timely matter and ensure their security. This bill will help do 
that.

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