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| Wilson demands answers from State Department and offers help to would-be NM Travelers |
May 17, 2007 |
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Wilson Concerned about Slow Passport Processing for New Mexicans
Albuquerque, NM – U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson is concerned that delayed passports are causing undue problems for New Mexicans and has asked the State Department to address the slow-down.
Wilson says her Albuquerque office has seen a spike in constituent problems with passport processing. She took her concerns straight to the top today, asking Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice to address the situation.
The entire text of Rep. Wilson’s is found below:
May 15, 2007
Dr. Condoleeza Rice
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20520
Dear Secretary Rice,
I am disappointed that the State Department has not prepared for serving the U.S. Citizens affected by new passport requirements, and I’d like to know what plans the State Department has to improve this service.
Many of my constituents are having major problems with obtaining a new or renewed passport in a timely manner. While I have always assisted constituents when they needed their passport, the number of requests for assistance has increased many fold beginning in March 2007 and the number of requests for assistance continues to grow.
I understand the increase in the number of requests is a result of the requirement for all persons traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda to present a valid passport or other approved documents. This requirement has been known by the State Department since Congress passed it into law in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. The President signed this law on December 17, 2004.
I checked the State Department web site today for passport information, and it indicates that the routine service will be completed within 10 weeks, while expedited service (which my constituents pay extra for) is completed within 2 weeks. This information is not accurate. For the last 8 to 10 weeks my office has received 10 to 20 calls daily, and most people have had processing time well over the posted timeframes. Additionally, Passport Acceptance Facilities have provided constituents with similar processing times, leading to expectations that are not being met.
Some constituent travel plans included departures within days for educational travel, urgent business or personal travel or costly travel that would not allow for alterations or refunds. In all cases they were not able to get a response from the Passport Agency to assure their passport would arrive for their departure.
My staff has spent many hours trying to assist constituents by contacting the Passport Agency by phone, fax, and email. Yesterday, faxes were not being received by the Houston office. Today my staff received word that the passport agency does not “have enough resources to answer all inquires.”
With concentrated effort, we have been able to help meet the travel needs of most of our constituents. But this situation is becoming untenable for my constituents. I would like to know your plans for timely improvement of this matter and your plans for the next new requirement for a passport or other approved documents for land and sea travel outside of the United States that may go into effect as early as January 1, 2008.
Sincerely,
Heather Wilson
Member of Congress |
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