I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5233 
To amend the Passport Act of June 4, 1920, to make certain improvements 
with respect to expenditure and other authorities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 18, 2023 
Mr. CARTER of Georgia (for himself, Mrs. CHAVEZ-DEREMER, Ms. LEE of 
Nevada, Mr. MILLER of Ohio, Mr. MILLS, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. NUNN of 
Iowa, Ms. SALAZAR, Mr. SCHIFF, Ms. TITUS, and Mr. WEBSTER of Flor-
ida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend the Passport Act of June 4, 1920, to make certain 
improvements with respect to expenditure and other au-
thorities, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, the following definitions apply: 
(1) APPROPRIATE
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com-
mittees’’ means the Committee on Foreign Relations 
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of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
of the House of Representatives. 
(2) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of State. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of State. 
SEC. 2. PASSPORT FEE EXPENDITURE AUTHORITY EXTEN-
SION. 
(a) WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE 
FEE.—To make permanent the Western Hemisphere 
Travel Initiative fee, section 1(b) of the Passport Act of 
June 4, 1920, (22 U.S.C. 214(b)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘(1)’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3). 
(b) PASSPORT FEES.—Section 1(b) of the Passport 
Act of June 4, 1920, as amended by subsection (a), shall 
be applied through fiscal year 2028 by striking ‘‘such 
costs’’ and inserting ‘‘the costs of providing consular serv-
ices’’. 
(c) MODERNIZATION OF PASSPORT PROCESSING.—A 
portion of the expanded expenditure authorities provided 
in subsections (a) and (b) shall be used— 
(1) to modernize consular systems, with an em-
phasis on passport and citizenship services; and 
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(2) towards a feasibility study on how the De-
partment could provide urgent, in-person passport 
services to significant populations with the longest 
travel times to existing passport agencies, including 
the possibility of building new passport agencies. 
SEC. 3. SPECIAL HIRING AUTHORITY FOR PASSPORT SERV-
ICES. 
During the 3-year period beginning on the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, without 
regard to the provisions under sections 3309 through 
3318 of title 5, United States Code, may directly appoint 
candidates to positions in the competitive service (as de-
fined in section 2102 of such title) at the Department in 
the Passport and Visa Examining Series 0967. 
SEC. 4. QUARTERLY REPORT ON PASSPORT WAIT TIMES. 
Not later than 30 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter for the following 
3 years, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appro-
priate congressional committees that describes— 
(1) the current estimated wait times for pass-
port processing; 
(2) the steps that have been taken by the De-
partment to reduce wait times to a reasonable time; 
(3) efforts to improve the rollout of the online 
passport renewal processing program, including how 
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much of passport revenues the Department is spend-
ing on consular systems modernization; 
(4) the demand for urgent passport services by 
major metropolitan area; 
(5) the steps that have been taken by the De-
partment to reduce and meet the demand for urgent 
passport services, particularly in areas that are 
greater than 5 hours driving time from the nearest 
passport agency; and 
(6) how the Department details its staff and re-
sources to passport services programs. 
SEC. 5. PASSPORT TRAVEL ADVISORIES. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Department shall make prominently 
available in United States regular passports, on the first 
3 pages of the passport, the following information: 
(1) A prominent, clear advisory for all travelers 
to check travel.state.gov for updated travel warnings 
and advisories. 
(2) A prominent, clear notice urging all trav-
elers to register with the Department prior to over-
seas travel. 
(3) A prominent, clear advisory— 
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(A) noting that many countries deny entry 
to travelers during the last 6 months of their 
passport validity period; and 
(B) urging all travelers to renew their 
passport not later than 1 year prior to its expi-
ration. 
SEC. 6. STRATEGY TO ENSURE ACCESS TO PASSPORT SERV-
ICES FOR ALL AMERICANS. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a strategy 
to the appropriate congressional committees, the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 
for ensuring reasonable access to passport services for all 
Americans, which shall include— 
(1) a detailed strategy describing how the De-
partment could— 
(A) by not later than 1 year after submis-
sion of the strategy, reduce passport processing 
times to an acceptable average for renewals and 
for expedited service; and 
(B) by not later than 2 years after the 
submission of the strategy, provide United 
States residents living in a significant popu-
lation center more than a 5-hour drive from a 
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