June 12, 2007
Washington, D.C.—Congressman Carney’s office is offering relief to the people of Northeast and Central Pennsylvania who are facing a significant passport processing backlog due to new air travel restrictions. “My office is here to help people cut through the red tape and expedite their passport requests if necessary,” said Congressman Carney. “With the new air travel restrictions, the demand for passports has increased and people are running into unexpected delays. We can help. I encourage anyone in Pennsylvania’s 10th District who has had trouble processing their passport requests to contact my office in Clarks Summit so we can help.”
Congressman Carney’s office was the saving grace for Maureen Wilson from Brackney, PA, whose daughter was going on a “once in a lifetime” trip to Ireland for her high school graduation present. “I am convinced that she would have never been able to take this once-in-a-lifetime trip to Ireland without the assistance of the office of Congressman Chris Carney,” said Ms. Wilson. “It took a long time for me to track down what the status was for her passport and I know it would have been sitting in limbo as the time for her trip came and went.”
“We contacted the passport office and made sure that the State Department responded promptly in issuing the passport. We often are able to make a call on behalf of our constituents, and in some cases all it takes is that call to make things happen. In this case, the State Department was able to expedite the request and we could deliver the passport in a timely manner,” said Wes Dunn, the former Mayor of Clarks Summit and Chief of Police and Carney’s Constituent Caseworker who manages passport requests. Mr. Dunn estimates that he has secured passports for 200 people in 2007.
“Serving the people of Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional district is why I came to Congress,” said Congressman Carney. “Whether its passports, Social Security claims, Veterans’ benefits or tour requests, my office is here to help.”
###
