[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 117 (Friday, July 20, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PASSPORT BACKLOG REDUCTION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 16, 2007

  Mr. CAPUANO. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
passage of S. 966, a bill that will help ease the lengthy delays that 
citizens are experiencing obtaining a passport.
  The House will have the opportunity to pass amendments to S. 966, the 
Passport Backlog Reduction Act. The Senate passed the bill, originally 
introduced by Senator Schumer, by unanimous consent on June 29.
  After hearing from many constituents about problems they were having, 
I introduced my I own bill, H.R. 2960, the Department of State Crisis 
Response Act of 2007. Along with my colleagues Representatives Louise 
Slaughter, Ruben Hinojosa, Ted Poe, Al Green, Mac Thornberry, Charles 
Gonzalez, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Shelley Berkley, Henry Cuellar, Carol 
Shea-Porter, Jerry McNerney, Peter Welch and Jason Altmire, I 
introduced this legislation to enable the Department of State to 
respond to a critical shortage of passport processing personnel by re-
employing vital former employees. I am pleased that the House Foreign 
Affairs Committee decided to send the Senate bill, similar in purpose 
to my bill, to the floor in an effort expedite the process. With 
passage of S. 966, the State Department can begin working to reduce the 
passport backlog.
  I am hopeful that this legislative action will go far to ease the 
difficulty and delay many of our constituents have experienced in 
getting or renewing their passports.

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