US lawmakers are pushing for new legislation that would reduce mounting passport backlogs and create a more efficient and up-to-date passport application system.
The bipartisan legislation, The Eliminating the Passport Backlog Act, seeks to update the current passport system, streamline the application process, and use new technology to quickly approve applications. The proposed legislation is cosponsored by Representative Mike Gallagher (R – Wisconsin) and Dan Lipinski (D-Illinois).
The current backlogs are due to the increased number of passport applications combined with the outdated process, according to Rep. Gallagher.
“Our current backlogged processes and systems are holding people back from pursuing their American Dream of traveling abroad, and it’s only getting worse,” said Rep. Gallagher.
This proposed legislation would require the State Department to modernize its systems by introducing a new, more efficient, and automated online application process. It also calls for a series of technological improvements to improve the accuracy and speed up the approval process.
The legislation has earned praise from markets, with the National Immigration Forum claiming that the bill’s “transformative approach” could lead to a more expedient and accurate system for anyone trying to obtain a passport.
The new legislation would also create a new passport cost study, allowing Congress to better understand the costs to processing passport applications and determining the merit of different passport pricing models.
The Department of State processed 17.4 million passport applications in 2019 alone, but with the number of travelers on the rise, the need for an updated system is greater than ever.
“It’s time to put a stop to the backlogs and improve Americans’ ability to get passports without a hassle,” said Rep. Lipinski.
If passed, the Eliminating the Passport Backlog Act could provide citizens with a much-needed passport system update, making the process quicker and easier for all travelers.