[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 26, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           PASSPORT SYSTEM REFORM AND BACKLOG PREVENTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DARRELL ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 19, 2024

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I would like to include in the Record a letter 
which my lead Democratic cosponsor, Mr. Costa, and I received from the 
U.S. Travel Association expressing the support of the travel industry 
for the passage of the Passport System Reform and Backlog Prevention 
Act:

                                                   March 18, 2024.
     Hon. Darrell Issa,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Jim Costa,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representatives Issa and Costa: On behalf of the U.S. 
     Travel Association (U.S. Travel), which represents all 
     segments of America's travel industry, I am writing to 
     express our strong support for H.R. 6610, the Passport System 
     Reform and Backlog Prevention Act, which is a bipartisan 
     measure that calls for the modernization of the State 
     Department's passport processing capabilities. H.R. 6610 
     provides a much-needed framework for meeting the Department's 
     commitment to improve efficiency, security, and customer 
     experience within the passport application process.
       As you know, America's travel industry plays a vital role 
     in our Nation's economy, contributing significantly to 
     revenue generation and job creation across all 50 states and 
     territories. U.S. Travel's mission is to increase travel to 
     and within the United States, and H.R. 6610 aligns with that 
     mission. As the travel sector continues to recover from the 
     pandemic, there is an urgent need to modernize that travel 
     experience, improve travel IT infrastructure, and position 
     the Department to meet increased demand for passports. In 
     2022 and 2023, the Department received a record-breaking 
     number of passport applications driven by the surge in U.S. 
     traveler demand for international trips, thereby causing a 
     massive and persistent backlog in average processing times.
       While there has been modest improvement in passport 
     processing times since last summer, more needs to be done to 
     bring about sustained progress. Significant improvements in 
     both passport and visa processing times can be readily 
     achieved through the long-overdue modernization of the Bureau 
     of Consular Affairs' outdated IT systems. The legacy systems 
     relied upon by Consular Affairs have significantly hindered 
     the agency's ability to keep pace with demand and disrupted 
     the travel experiences of millions of Americans each year. 
     Accordingly, the modernization of IT infrastructure should be 
     treated as a critical priority for delivering streamlined 
     customer experience for passport and visa applicants, while 
     ensuring the accuracy and security of those functions.
       This modernization initiative also aligns with broader 
     efforts to promote international travel and strengthen 
     diplomatic relations. As the world becomes increasingly 
     interconnected, it is essential for the United States to 
     maintain a robust and efficient passport system that 
     facilitates the movement of people and fosters a travel 
     sector that drives economic growth and job creation.
       The U.S. Travel Association commends your bipartisan 
     leadership in introducing H.R. 6610 and looks forward to 
     working alongside you to advocate for its passage.
           Sincerely,

                                          Tori Emerson Barnes,

                                         Executive Vice President,
     Public Affairs and Policy.

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