WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) issued the following statement on delays in the State Department’s passport renewal processing.

“My office continues to hear from Wisconsin families experiencing delays for passport applications and renewals. These significant delays are unacceptable. I am pushing for the State Department to take action and reduce these delays.  We need to ensure federal agencies are properly working to serve Americans in need of these services.” 

Background:

The State Department recently updated processing times for passport applications and renewals. Processing times as of March 24th for a routine passport have been increased to 10 to 13 weeks, for expedited passports 7 to 9 weeks. Previous processing times for passports were 8 to 11 weeks for routine passports and 5 to 7 weeks for expedited passports.

Congressman Steil’s office has received an increase in passport requests from residents of Wisconsin’s First District traveling during the spring and summer months. On April 6th, Steil sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) Director Hugh Halpern regarding passport delays. The letter calls on Secretary Blinken and Director Halpern to answer a series of questions on how they plan to resolve the delays. The letter was also sent by Rep. Michael T. McCaul, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Steil is Chairman of the Committee on House Administration and has oversight of the Government Publishing Office. McCaul is Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and has oversight of the State Department.

To read the full text of the letter, click here.

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