Fitzpatrick Leads Bipartisan Effort to Reverse State Department Decision Affecting Library Passport Services

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) led a bipartisan coalition of Pennsylvania lawmakers in introducing H.R. 6997, the Community Passport Services Access Act-legislation that will protect and restore the ability of nonprofit public libraries to provide passport services for local families.

The bipartisan bill-championed by Representatives John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Madeleine Dean (PA-4), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6), Robert Bresnahan (PA-8), and Lloyd Smucker (PA-11)-responds to a recent U.S. State Department determination that would strip nonprofit public libraries of their long-standing ability to collect and retain passport processing fees, despite decades of successful operation as trusted passport acceptance facilities.

Without congressional action, this decision would shift Bucks and Montgomery Counties from a decentralized, community-based passport network to a centralized federal model-reducing access, increasing delays, and imposing higher real-world costs on the families who rely on it most.

"Public libraries sit at the heart of our communities and have become a gateway to essential federal services like passports. This bill ensures they can continue providing that access without diverting local dollars away from core community needs. It keeps services close to home, safeguards local resources, and protects taxpayers from being forced to subsidize a federal responsibility," said Fitzpatrick.

Across Pennsylvania, many libraries use passport fees to keep their doors open, extend hours, and provide community services-particularly in towns without nearby federal passport offices. Removing that revenue would force many libraries to either eliminate passport services or shift costs onto local taxpayers.

"The Community Passport Services Access Act is the direct result of the outreach I received from libraries in my congressional district that would be adversely impacted by recent changes. Families in our rural communities have come to rely on their local public libraries for accessible and convenient passport services and they deserve the certainty to know that these services will continue to be available," said Joyce. "I'm grateful for Congresswoman Dean's partnership in ensuring that affected libraries will be able to provide passport services and keep their doors open in our communities for years to come."

"Our public libraries are a beacon - offering a breadth of resources right in our communities, including the ability to accept passport applications," said Dean. "Pennsylvanians depend on the accessibility of passport acceptance facilities, and our libraries rely on this program for crucial revenue. At a time when more Americans than ever are seeking passports, the State Department must reinstate this sensible, time-saving option."

"Libraries are more than just gateways to lifelong learning in our community. I want to thank Dr. Joyce for leading efforts to address this issue. I am pleased to join my Pennsylvania colleagues in a bipartisan effort to ensure that libraries can remain passport acceptance agencies and will advocate for this bill's swift consideration and passage," said Smucker. "I also want to thank the library directors, board members, local elected officials, and community members who shared their concerns with me about the impact of this decision. Their input was invaluable as the Pennsylvania Delegation worked together to address this issue."

"Libraries are the bedrock of communities across Pennsylvania and our nation. Ensuring that Americans can access passport services in the same trusted community spaces they already rely on and are familiar with is essential to making government more accessible and convenient for families and individuals alike. I am proud to support this bipartisan bill, which reaffirms the vital role libraries play in delivering essential services to our constituents including access to passport services," said Houlahan.

"For families in Northeastern Pennsylvania, getting a passport should not mean taking a day off work or driving hours just to access a federal service. Our local nonprofit libraries are already trusted hubs for the community, and this legislation simply gives them the tools to keep doing what they do best, serve people. Allowing libraries to receive processing fees ensures these services remain available, affordable, and right here at home, while strengthening the community institutions that so many NEPA families rely on," said Bresnahan.

Statement from the Pennsylvania Library Association:

"Public libraries are geared to serve their communities and often provide weekend and evening hours to meet the needs of their communities. For decades, many public libraries in Pennsylvania and other states have provided an easy access point for US citizens to apply for passports for the first time. Often a one-stop service that includes taking passport photos, public libraries across both rural and urban communities have been diligent in meeting the standards required by the U.S. State Department. The unexpected sudden removal of public libraries that are structured as non-profit charitable organizations as the mere consideration of whether they are a qualified acceptance facility will have significant impact on citizens wishing to get a passport easily.

Public libraries organized as non-profit charitable organizations versus being a department of local municipal government have to meet the same standards as other entities to accept passport applications. These non-profit libraries have hired and trained staff, provided significant hours of availability, and used the photo fees to help underwrite the costs of library operations.

We are thrilled to see the bipartisan support for the importance of public libraries serving their communities as passport acceptance facilities. Just because some public libraries operate as a non-profit organization does not mean that they are less qualified to serve their community."

Constituent Passport Assistance

Residents of Pennsylvania's First Congressional District who need help applying for or renewing a passport are encouraged to contact Congressman Fitzpatrick's district office. Fitzpatrick's constituent services team works directly with the U.S. State Department and helped over 700 PA-01 families last year alone successfully complete passport applications and resolve time-sensitive issues.

With routine processing currently taking six to eight weeks and many countries requiring passports to be valid for at least six months beyond the date of travel, early action matters. Whether it's a first-time application, a renewal, or an unexpected complication, Fitzpatrick's office is ready to provide personalized assistance to help keep travel plans on track.

To get help, visit fitzpatrick.house.gov or call the Congressman's office at (215) 579-8102.

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