What will the increase in passport fees pay for?
Over the last five years, the demand for passports has increased to an average of approximately 15 million per year. Historically, Passport Services counter agencies were located primarily on the two coasts and in the center of the country, which left the northern and southern borders relatively underserved. In response to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), the Department has undertaken a systematic expansion of the network to provide better service to communities that have been particularly affected by the land border crossing requirements associated with that program. The number of passport facilities has increased significantly since the last comprehensive cost of service study. Four new counter agencies are now serving communities along the southern and northern borders that have been particularly affected by the land border crossing requirements associated with the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. In FY 2004, the State Department had 13 passport agencies open to
