American Passport Card Accessibility Act

Bill Summary: American Passport Card Accessibility Act (H.R. 7782)

Overview

The American Passport Card Accessibility Act is a straightforward piece of legislation designed to remove financial barriers for U.S. citizens seeking to obtain a passport card. The primary intent of the bill is to make passport cards—which are primarily used for land and sea crossings into Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean—more accessible by eliminating the standard issuance fees.

Key Provisions

The bill introduces a specific change to the fee structure managed by the Secretary of State regarding passport cards:

• Elimination of Standard Fees: The bill prohibits the Secretary of State from charging a fee for the initial issuance or the reissuance of a passport card. This overrides previous authorities established under the Passport Act of 1920.
• Exception for Expedited Service: The ban on fees does not apply to expedited processing. Citizens who wish to receive their passport cards faster than the standard processing time will still be required to pay the associated expedited service fees.

Who is Affected?

• U.S. Citizens: Individuals applying for a passport card for the first time or renewing an expired card would no longer have to pay the standard application fee.
• U.S. Department of State: The department would be required to adjust its fee schedules and billing processes to reflect the removal of these charges.

Potential Impact

By making passport cards free, the bill seeks to increase the number of citizens who possess a government-verified travel document for land and sea border crossings. This could potentially lead to:
* Increased Accessibility: Lower-income individuals who may have been deterred by the cost of a passport card can now obtain one.
* Border Efficiency: An increase in the use of passport cards may streamline identity verification processes at land borders.

Procedural Status

• Introduced: March 4, 2026
• Current Status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.