,i  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #ehag  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(           
,,repres5tatives  ,septemb] #bh1        
#bjbc,mr4 ,s*iff 7= himself & ,mr4      
,lieu7 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0   
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign        
,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to exp& & codify a
 pilot program to provide notification (
 expiration ( passports1 & = o!r        
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,passport ,application1    
,/aff+1 & ,s]vice ,process ,optimization
 ,re=m & ,transp>5cy ,act or !          
,,passport ,act4  #b4 ,f9d+s ,congress  
f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,provid+ passport   
s]vices is a vital function ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates ,gov]nm5t t affects ! lives1     
plans1 & f9ances ( millions ( ,am]icans4
 ,congress has ve/$ au?ority 9 ! ,/ate  
,dep>tm5t to grant1 issue1 & v]ify      
,unit$ ,/ates passports4  7#b7 ,! numb] 
( passports ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate issues  
on an annual basis has increas$         
sub/antially s9ce ! mid-#aiijs1 ) !     
,dep>tm5t's ,bureau ( ,consul> ,affairs 

issu+ a record #ba1ijj1jjj passports 9  
fiscal ye> #bjbb1 ne>ly quadruple !     
#e1ejj1jjj passports issu$ 9 fiscal ye> 
#aiif4 ,! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate expects to  
set a new record 9 fiscal ye> #bjbc amid
 :at ,secret>y ( ,/ate ,antony ,bl9k5   
said 0 unprec$5t$ dem&1 ) ! ,dep>tm5t   
receiv+ #cj p]c5t to #dj p]c5t m        
passport applications weekly ?an 9      
#bjbb4  7#c7 ,9 #bjbc1 a numb] ( factors
 l$ to a surge 9 passport applications &
 delays 9 process+--includ+ p5t-up dem& 
= passports among ! ,am]ican public     
foll[+ ! relax+ ( ,,covid-#ai-relat$    
int]national travel re/riction1         
complications ) ! limit$ release ( !    
onl9e passport r5ewal process1 attrition
 )9 ! passport adjudication work=ce     
foll[+ ! onset ( ! ,,covid-#ai p&emic & 
cont9u$ 9-p]son "w requir$1 & gr[? 9 !  
p]c5tage ( ,am]ican citiz5s :o possess a
 passport4  7#d7 ,! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's 
publi%$ process+ times = r\t9e passport 
applications increas$ f #f to #i weeks 9
 ,janu>y #bjbc to #aj to #ac weeks by   

,m>* #bjbc1 & = exp$it$ passport        
applications increas$ f #c to #e weeks  
to #g to #i weeks 9 ! same "t frame4    
7#e7 ,9 ,july #bjbc1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate
 indicat$ x 0 work+ to return process+  
times to pre-p&emic levels1 :i* z (     
,decemb] #bjai 7 #f to #h weeks = r\t9e 
applications & #b to #c weeks = exp$it$ 
applications1 by ! end ( ! cal5d> ye>4  
,h[ev]1 ! publi%$ process+ times h n    
decreas$ z ( ,septemb] #bjbc4  7#f7 ,!  
passports backlog & l5g?i]1 unpr$ictable
 process+ times has significantly       
impact$ ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s4 ,! delays
 h caus$ ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s to miss  
int]national travel = important ev5ts   
su* z w$d+s1 fun]als1 family reunions1 &
 long-await$ vacations1 & opportunities 
to "w & /udy abroad4 ,! backlogs h also 
impos$ undue /ress & additional co/s on 
con/itu5ts1 ) unpr$ictable timel9es =c+ 
,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s to cancel &       
res*$ule travel1 pay = exp$it$ s]vices1 
or miss out on once-9-a-lifetime ev5ts4 
,a disproportionate p]c5tage ( con/itu5t

 s]vice caseloads n[ focus on passport  
issues4  7#g7 ,congressional action is  
ne$$ to ensure cont9u$ improvem5ts 9    
passport process+ times & communication 
) ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s on ^! matt]s4   
#c4 ,plan to exp& & codify pilot program
 to provide notification ( expiration ( 
passports  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ahj
 days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is    
,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate %all submit to
 ,congress a report t-- 7#a7 updates    
,congress on ! progress 9 implem5t+ !   
pilot program describ$ on !             
travel4/ate4gov website to notify ,unit$
 ,/ates passport hold]s #f mon?s be=e _!
 passports are set to expire2  7#b7     
conta9s a plan to exp& ! ,dep>tm5t (    
,/ate's pilot program to provide        
notification to all hold]s ( ,unit$     
,/ates passports ( ! upcom+ expiration (
 ea* su* passport by n lat] ?an ! date t
 is "o ye> prior to ! date ( !          
expiration ( ! passport2 &  7#c7 conta9s
 a plan to codify ! pilot program1      
includ+ proposals = legislation if      

necess>y4  7b7 ,=m ( notification ,!    
notification "u ! pilot program describ$
 9 subsection 7a7-- 7#a7 %all be provid$
 ?r\gh electronic mail 7e-mail71 ,%ort  
,message_/,messag+ ,s]vice 7,,sms71 or  
o!r electronic means z appropriate2 &   
7#b7 may be provid$ ?r\gh regul> ,unit$ 
,/ates mail 9 cases 9 :i* ! e-mail or   
phone numb] ( hold]s ( ,unit$ ,/ates    
passports is n available4  7c7 ,opt out 
,! pilot program describ$ 9 subsection  
7a7 %all all[ = passport hold]s to opt  
out ( receiv+ notifications "u !        
program4  #d4 ,in=mation relat+ to use (
 & application process = passports at ! 
"t ( book+ int]national flights to or f 
! ,unit$ ,/ates  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,!        
,secret>y ( ,/ate1 9 coord9ation ) !    
,secret>y ( ,transportation1 %all       
coord9ate ) airl9es & airl9e ticket     
book+ companies s]v+ ! ,unit$ ,/ates &  
(f]+ int]national flights to or f !     
,unit$ ,/ates to provide in=mation      
relat+ to use ( passports1 includ+ !    
m9imum l5g? ( passport validity requir$ 

to ent] ! de/9ation c\ntry1 & !         
application process = passports to      
cu/om]s at ! "t ( book+ an int]national 
flight to or f ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  7b7 ,=m
 ( in=mation ,! in=mation requir$ by    
subsection 7a7 %\ld be provid$ ?r\gh    
electronic mail 7e-mail71 ,pop-up ads or
 ,pop-ups1 direct$ l9ks on ! airl9e's   
website1 or o!r electronic means z      
appropriate & include a me*anism = us]s 
to ackn[l$ge !y h read ! in=mation be=e 
! transaction c be complet$4  #e4 ,plan 
to improve track+ ( pro( ( citiz5%ip    
docum5ts  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y (   
,/ate %all develop a plan to provide    
great] transp>5cy & improv$ track+ (    
docum5ts to provide evid5ce ( ,unit$    
,/ates citiz5%ip & pro( ( id5tity =     
purposes ( ! application process =      
,unit$ ,/ates passports4  7b7           
,requirem5ts ,! plan requir$ by         
subsection 7a7-- 7#a7 %\ld ensure t     
docum5ts describ$ 9 su* subsection are  
return$ to applicants us+ a trackable   
deliv]y s]vice1 :i* c\ld include provid+

 applicants ! option to pay a fee =     
%ipp+ via ,,ups1 ,priority ,mail1 or    
ano!r me?od t provides = track+ ( !     
docum5ts1 & ensur+ t applicants are     
in=m$ ( ! relevant track+ numb] or      
numb]s2 &  7#b7 %all include in=mation  
on ! travel4/ate4gov website describ+   
options t are available to applicants ^:
 docum5ts describ$ 9 su* subsection are 
lo/ 9 ! application process4  7c7       
,reimbursem5t ,! plan requir$ by        
subsection 7a7 %all provide =           
reimbursem5t ( ! full co/ ( replacem5t  
to ! applicant ( any ( ! applicant's    
docum5ts describ$ 9 su* subsection t are
 lo/ by ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate 9 !         
application process4  #f4 ,,gao /udy    
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( !  
,unit$ ,/ates %all prep>e an update to  
its ,july #bjjh /udy entitl$ 8,/ate     
,dep>tm5t3 ,compreh5sive ,/rategy ,ne$$ 
to ,improve ,passport ,op]ations0       
7,,gao-#jh-hia74  7b7 ,matt]s ,to be    
includ$ ,! /udy requir$ by subsection   
7a7 %all include a review ( ! op]ations 

( lockbox facilities op]at$ by f9ancial 
ag5ts ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,treasury t are 
responsible = op5+ & sort+ passport     
application packages1 v]ify+ !          
complet5ess ( ! packages1 process+      
paym5ts1 & bat*+ ! applications1 fur!r  
includ+-- 7#a7 in=mation on ! volume &  
av]age times = process+ applications =  
,unit$ ,/ates passports at ! lockbox    
facilities2  7#b7 an assessm5t (        
communication betwe5 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate
 & su* facilities2  7#c7 id5tification (
 any areas = improvem5ts & increas$     
effici5cies2 &  7#d7 a description ( h[ 
! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate & lockbox facilities
 are plann+ to %ift responsibilities =  
process+ ( docum5ts us$ 9 ! application 
sy/em = ,unit$ ,/ates passports "u an   
onl9e passport application sy/em4  7c7  
,additional matt]s ,to be includ$ ,!    
/udy requir$ by subsection 7a7 %all also
 include a review ( ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,/ate's ef=ts to e/imate & adapt to     
p]iods ( peak dem& = passport s]vices1 z
 well z in=mation on any additional     

topics t ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al det]m9es  
are relevant to improv+ passport        
op]ations4  #g4 ,passport op]ations     
/aff+ & passport employee recruitm5t &  
ret5tion  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y (   
,/ate %\ld brief ,congress on ! curr5t  
/aff+ levels = employees support+       
passport op]ations & make any           
recomm5dations reg>d+ ! provision (     
additional comp5sation to employees t h 
made out/&+ contributions to decreas+   
backlogs 9 ! process+ applications =    
,unit$ ,/ates passports4  7b7           
,consultation ) congress ,! ,secret>y ( 
,/ate %\ld consult ) ,congress on any   
additional au?orities t may be ne$$ to--
 7#a7 provide appropriate inc5tives &   
recognition to recruit & reta9 ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,/ate employees involv$ 9 process+   
applications = ,unit$ ,/ates passports2 
&  7#b7 enc\rage m ov]time ( su*        
employees until backlogs 9 process+     
applications = su* passports are r$uc$4