A Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast Congressman has introduced a bill to reduce passport wait times.

Republican Brian Mast says his 'Reducing Barriers to Travel Act' would streamline the application process, slash backlogs and reduce the wait time required for a passport to be issued.

Mast says Floridians had to wait between three and four months to have their passports renewed last year.

(Press release from Mast's Office)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Brian Mast (FL-21) introduced legislation to reduce passport wait times for Floridians. The Reducing Barriers to Travel Act will streamline the application process, slash backlogs, and reduce the wait time required for a passport to be issued.

“Hard-working Floridians had to wait between three-to-four months just to have their passport renewed last year,” said Rep. Mast. “Our team was inundated with calls from constituents who face significant difficulty in having their passports renewed. Some were even forced to scuttle long-planned trips because of the State Department backlog in processing passport applications.”

Last year, Florida saw 1,502,928 passport applications with the majority of applicants having to wait more than three months to receive their passports. Wait times were particularly long during the summer when the State Department showed a backlog in passport processing.

Congressman Mast’s legislation would allow public notaries to serve as passport acceptance agents. This would expand the number of certified options citizens wanting to renew their passports could pursue.

The bill would also expand the number of private companies certified to provide hand-carry expedited services and increase the number of passport applications such companies can process. This will reduce the backlog from areas of the country that lack access to passport offices.

Furthermore, the bill makes it easier for individuals to remember to renew their passport by changing the expiration date to their birthday.

A copy of the bill can be found here.

Manny Munoz