Bipartisan Kinzinger bill addresses U.S. passport backlog

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) last week signed on as the lead original cosponsor of a bipartisan bill to eliminate the United States passport application processing backlog created by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I’ve heard from hundreds of Illinoisans about the ongoing passport backlog at the Department of State, and it needs to be addressed immediately,” said Rep. Kinzinger. “The American people deserve answers on the status of their applications, and our legislation aims to do that and more.”

Rep. Kinzinger introduced the Passport Backlog Elimination Act, H.R. 4632, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) to require the U.S. Secretary of State to submit a plan to eliminate the backlog within 30 days enactment of the legislation. The members in July 2020 introduced the same-named bill, which stalled in the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“I’m proud to introduce this measure with my colleagues today as we work to get transparency for our constituents and ensure access to this important service,” Rep. Kinzinger said last week.

If enacted, H.R. 4632 would require the backlog plan to include a timeline that would ensure processing time is six to eight weeks for standard applications and two to three weeks for expedited applications, according to the text of the bill.

Currently, routine passport service can take up to 18 weeks and expedited service can take up to 12 weeks, according to the State Department.

Additionally, within six months of the bill’s enactment, the State Department Inspector General would be required to submit an audit on the effectiveness of the backlog plan.

The legislation is now under consideration in the House Foreign Affairs Committee.