Last week Congress adjourned for its annual Independence Day recess, offering representatives a chance to return to our homes, listen to our constituents, and discuss the important issues of our day.

This Fourth of July was my first as a representative in the U.S. House, and my family, staff, and I made the most of it. In Topeka, we marched in the Potwin Place Neighborhood Association Parade and the Collins Park Parade in the morning, and later, we joined in the Holliday Park Neighborhood Fourth of July Celebration. That evening in Wamego, we participated in the largest and oldest Independence Day parade in Kansas.

As we walked down streets lined with flag-waving crowds, I found myself overcome again by the honor and privilege of representing you in the U.S. House. I am honored to play a part in drafting the latest chapter of American history, and I return to Washington this week driven by a renewed sense of purpose and opportunity.

Please read on to learn more about what our office has been up to!

With warm regards,

Nancy Boyda
Member of Congress

Casework Corner - What to Do If You Have Passport Problems

Casework Corner is a regular feature on my official website.  Every week, members of my constituent services staff share ways that they can help Kansans deal with the federal government.  The article below was authored by Joshua Dieker, a district representative in my Topeka office.

In recent months, Rep. Boyda's Topeka office has heard from over 400 Kansans who have experienced major delays in their applications for a U.S. passport. If you, too, are encountering passport problems, my coworkers and I are glad to help you.

As you may know, in January of this year, the State Department issued a rule requiring American citizens to present passports for air travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. As a consequence, the number of new passport applications climbed dramatically, creating a major backlog and increasing the average processing time from 10 weeks to 14-18 weeks.

If you are planning to leave the country within 14 days and you have not yet received your passport, Rep. Boyda's office can can request that the State Department expedite your application.  Even if you haven't yet reached the 14-day window, our office can contact the State Department on your behalf to determine the status of your application.

In general, we offer three tips to anyone planning international travel:

• If you're planning to travel abroad any time this year, don’t wait to file a passport application. Send it in now.
• If you file a passport application and do not receive a passport by 14 days before your departure, please call Rep. Boyda’s Topeka office at (785) 234-8111.
• If you are forced to cancel your travel plans due to passport delays, contact your airline's customer service number. You may be able to reschedule your flight or receive a refund.

New Disaster Recovery Centers Open in Southeast Kansas

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has opened Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Miami, Wilson, and Neosho counties to assist southeast Kansas residents who were impacted by the recent floods.  Each DRC will be open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. seven days a week, until further notice.

DRCs provide residents an opportunity to meet face-to-face with representatives from state and federal agencies to find answers to questions they may have about the recovery process.  Before visiting a DRC, individuals should register for assistance by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585 for those who are hearing or speech-impaired. The FEMA application line is open 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. CDT seven days a week, until further notice. You can also register online at www.fema.gov.

This Week in Congress

On Monday, Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Adjutant General Todd Bunting, members of the Kansas Congressional delegation, and I toured flood-damaged areas of southeast Kansas, including Fredonia, Chanute, and Osawatomie.  While I was in southeast Kansas, my husband, Steve, hosted a Congress on Your Corner in Goff.

On Tuesday, staff at the Topeka Family Service and Guidance Center showed me around their new facility and talked about their work providing mental health services to Topeka-area families.  Later, Rep. Dennis Moore and I toured the federal prison in Leavenworth, and we held a press conference to discuss the challenges of federal funding for the Bureau of Prisons.  That evening, the Military Officers Association of America hosted a dinner in Lawrence, where we discussed programs to benefit veterans and active duty soldiers.

On Wednesday, July 4th, my family, staff, and I marched in the Topeka Potwin Place Neighborhood Association Parade and the Collins Park Parade, and we joined in the Holliday Park Neighborhood Fourth of July Celebration. That evening in Wamego, we participated in the largest and oldest Independence Day parade in Kansas.

On Thursday, the Iola Community Involvement Task Force led me on a trolley ride through town as they talked about proposed projects for Iola.  Later, the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission discussed the recent flooding and their views on how federal legislation affects the southeast Kansas area.

On Friday, Assistant Secretary of the Army Keith Eastin and I visited the Parsons Army Ammunition Plant, which has been affected by the recent base realignment process, and we then held a public meeting on the ammunition plant's operations.  Afterwards, my staff and I hosted a Congress on Your Corner in the Parsons Recreation Center.

On Saturday, Baker University held a reception to honor Dr. Charles Doudna's 100th birthday, and I joined in the celebration.  Then I drove to Williamsburg Park for an event to support the Davidson family, who were devastated by a car accident on April 27th as well as by a fire to their home the prior week.  It was a moving demonstration of community support for a family that has gone through very hard times lately.

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