Congressmembers Call for Passport Application Fees to be Waived for Those Who Lost Their Passports During Ida

September 23, 2021
Press Release

Lawmakers send letter to President Biden

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following President Biden's approval of emergency and major disaster declarations for New York, U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) announced today that they are leading an effort to get passport application fees waived for those seeking to replace passports that were lost or destroyed in the devastating flooding caused by Hurricane Ida.
Under current law, the President may waive U.S. passport application fees for those who lost their U.S. passport in a qualifying major disaster. So, the two lawmakers have spearheaded a bipartisan letter to President Bident asking him to immediately classify Hurricane Ida, and the remnants of Ida, as a major disaster that qualifies for a passport fee waiver.
"After more than a year of travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans are preparing to travel," the Members of Congress wrote. "Families are trying to reunite with loved ones, students are trying to study abroad, and businesses are trying to reconnect with customers."
"Those devastated by Ida are already facing overwhelming burdens, struggling to repair their homes and replace their belongings," said Congresswoman Meng. "The federal government has the power to eliminate the fees associated with replacing their passports, and doing so would be one less problem that those affected by the storm would have to deal with. We should do everything possible to help constituents, and others impacted by natural disasters, recover from the devastation they're experiencing. I look forward to the President's reply to our letter, and I thank him for his continued support for New York during this difficult time."
"Unfortunately, some of our constituents lost critical paperwork such as passports during flooding earlier this month," said Congresswoman Malliotakis. "They already have enough expenses rebuilding their homes and replacing destroyed items. During this time of extraordinary hardship, waiving the fees to replace ruined passports is appropriate."
Presently, it costs a single adult $145 to replace their passport, and $115 per child, plus additional fees for expedited processing and shipping.
Other Members of Congress who signed the letter include Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Madeline Dean (D-PA), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), Sandford Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Kathleen Rice (D-NY).
A copy of the letter can be viewed here, and the text of the correspondence is below.
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The Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
President
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Biden,
Thank you very much for acting quickly to approve the requested major disaster declarations by the Governors of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Mississippi, greenlighting federal aid for individuals affected by devastating flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. As you are aware following your visit to New York City, New Jersey, and Louisiana to survey the storm damage, many individuals in Ida's path lost all or nearly all of their possessions as a result of the flooding.
One important item many families impacted by the remnants of Ida have lost is their passports. The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (Public Law No:115-254) says the President may waive U.S. passport application fees for those who lost their U.S. passport in a major disaster. The law states that fees will only be waived for those who lost their passports as a direct result of the disasters listed online on the Department of State's website.
After more than a year of travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans are preparing to travel. Families are trying to reunite with loved ones, students are trying to study abroad, and businesses are trying to reconnect with customers. Those impacted by Ida are already facing incredible burdens to replace the possessions they have lost, as well as make immediate, necessary repairs to their homes.
We urge you to name Hurricane Ida, and the remnants of Ida, as a major disaster that qualifies for a passport fee waiver, as soon as possible.
We thank you for your consideration and look forward to working with you to address this important issue.
Sincerely,