With summer rolling in, many Americans will be taking trips for business and vacation, increasing the demand for passports. Florida has only one application office in Miami, and few Floridians living in other parts of the state have the time to visit. As a result, Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) is calling for the establishment of a second, more convenient application office in Central Florida, as many of his constituents have sought assistance in passport applications.
As mentioned, there is the Miami Passport Agency. Still, in addition to the long distance and time many Floridians have to drive to reach it, it is appointment-only and operates in a short window of time.
Last June, Rep. Frost called for weekend appointments to be offered at the site. While the request was granted, the Gen-Z Florida Congressman had a third of his office's casework be passport application assistance, translating to over 400 constituents seeking help.
The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) has projected a significant surge in travel this summer, making it one of the busiest in years. This forecast underscores the urgent need for a new passport application office in Central Florida, a move that would help alleviate the pressure on the existing office and cater to the increased demand.
In his press release, Rep. Frost said, "Our office was overwhelmed with passport requests last year, and while we are always ready to help, we know that establishing a new passport office here in Central Florida would be a game-changer for Central and North Florida residents in need of passport assistance. Expecting working Central Floridians to travel eight hours or more to Miami during the workweek is unrealistic. As we gear up for one of the busiest travel seasons, we must ensure that every American and Floridian is able to apply for or renew their passport in an easy and effective way."
Frost's calls for a new office come on the heels of his bipartisan bill introduced last week with Representative Mike Lawler (R-NY) calling for the elimination of "bleed air" ventilation systems on commercial aircraft, as fuel leaks can expose crew and passengers to toxic chemicals found in jet fuel.
