State Department: Transparent Cost Estimates Needed to Support Passport Execution Fee Decisions.

摘要

As early as January 31, 2008, U.S. citizens will be required to present a passport or other approved document to enter the United States at all ports of entry. The Department of State (State) is developing a 'passport card' as a means of establishing U.S. citizenship for individuals crossing U.S. land borders or arriving by sea from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, or Bermuda. State proposes to charge $45 for the card, which would include a $25 execution fee. Acceptance facilities, including State's passport offices, as well as post offices and state courts, execute passport applications on State's behalf, and retain this fee. GAO was asked to examine (1) the factors State considered when setting the proposed fee and (2) how execution cost data were developed. GAO reviewed current laws that authorize the setting of fees and met with State officials to determine how they set the execution fee. State considered several factors, including congressional interest in having a low-cost travel document, when setting the proposed passport execution fee. State has proposed to reduce the current execution fee from $30 to $25, which would help the department to issue a lower cost passport card that meets the new documentation requirements.