American Passport Card Accessibility Act

Bill Number

H.R. 7782

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-03-04: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Last Updated

2026-03-26T19:35:55Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 7782: American Passport Card Accessibility Act

Purpose

This bill aims to increase access to passport cards by eliminating standard fees for their issuance or reissuance. A passport card is a wallet-sized document that allows U.S. citizens to travel by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, but it cannot be used for international air travel.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits the Secretary of State from charging any fee for issuing or reissuing a passport card.
• Allows fees only for expedited processing of passport card applications (faster service than standard processing).
• The bill is short and focused, with no additional requirements for implementation or funding.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends the Passport Act of 1920 (22 U.S.C. 214), which previously authorized the Secretary of State to set and collect fees for passports and related documents, including passport cards introduced in 2008.
• Removes the authority to charge routine fees specifically for passport cards, shifting away from a fee-based model for this document type while preserving fees for other passport services (like full passports or expedited options).

Potential Impacts

• On citizens: Lowers costs for obtaining or renewing a passport card, making it more affordable for frequent land/sea border travelers, such as those near the U.S.-Canada or U.S.-Mexico borders. This could encourage more applications and improve travel convenience without financial barriers.
• On government agencies: The Department of State may see reduced revenue from passport card fees, potentially requiring budget adjustments or reliance on general appropriations. Processing volumes could increase due to lower costs, straining resources if not offset by funding.
• On international relations: Minimal direct impact, but could facilitate smoother cross-border travel with neighboring countries by promoting easier access to required documentation.

Main Stakeholders

• U.S. citizens: Especially border-state residents, families, and commuters who rely on passport cards for affordable, limited-scope international travel.
• Department of State: Responsible for passport issuance; will handle fee exemptions and potential workload increases.
• Congress: Involved in overseeing funding to cover any revenue loss from the Department of State.

Notable Implications

• Legal: The bill directly overrides a specific provision of a century-old law without broader changes to passport policy, ensuring compliance with existing application and security requirements. No challenges to constitutional authority are evident, as Congress has clear power over immigration and foreign affairs documentation.
• Political: Promotes accessibility and equity in travel documents, potentially appealing to constituents in border regions. It could spark debates on federal spending, as eliminating fees shifts costs to taxpayers via appropriations rather than user fees.
• Budgetary: Introduces a modest fiscal impact by forgoing fee revenue (passport card fees are currently around $30–$65), but the overall passport program remains self-funding through other fees.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]

Recent Actions

• 2026-03-04: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
• 2026-03-04: Introduced in House
• 2026-03-04: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• American Passport Card Accessibility Act — issued 2026-03-04 — PDF (2 pages)