The proposed legislation, authored by U.S. Rep. John Joyce, aims to broaden access to passport services by enabling public libraries to assist local communities, according to the U.S. Congress.
H.R.6997 was introduced on Jan. 9, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.
In essence, this bill amends the Passport Act of June 4, 1920, authorizing certain public libraries to act as passport acceptance facilities, allowing them to collect and retain the execution fee for passport applications. The Secretary of State is mandated to authorize libraries that previously served as passport acceptance facilities and complied with related regulations within 30 days of the bill’s enactment. Additionally, a report must be provided to congressional committees concerning compliance or reasons for noncompliance. The legislation aims to enhance access to passport services through public libraries, furthering community engagement and support.
The bill was introduced by Rep. John Joyce (Republican-PA-13th District) and co-sponsored by Rep. Robert P. Bresnahan (Republican-PA-8th District), Rep. Madeleine Dean (Democrat-PA-4th District), and Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican-PA-1st District), along with three other sponsors.
Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. Joyce has introduced another 14 bills.
Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.
John Joyce is a Representative from Pennsylvania, first elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Sixteenth Congress and serving in the three succeeding Congresses. He graduated with a B.S. from Pennsylvania State University in 1979 and earned his M.D. from Temple University in 1983.
| Bill Number | Date Introduced | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| H.R.6997 | 01/09/2026 | Community Passport Services Access Act |
| H.R.6398 | 12/03/2025 | RED Tape Act |
| H.R.6197 | 11/20/2025 | Health Tech Investment Act |
| H.R.6046 | 11/17/2025 | Broadband and Telecommunications RAIL Act |
| H.R.5273 | 09/10/2025 | Broadband Competition and Efficient Deployment Act |
| H.R.4681 | 07/23/2025 | SPARC Act |
| H.R.4331 | 07/10/2025 | Access to Claims Data Act |
| H.R.3686 | 06/03/2025 | SAFE Sunscreen Standards Act |
| H.R.2936 | 04/17/2025 | Addressing Boarding and Crowding in the Emergency Department |
| H.R.2061 | 03/11/2025 | Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act |
| H.R.1931 | 03/06/2025 | Access to Pediatric Technologies Act of 2025 |
| H.R.1703 | 02/27/2025 | Choices for Increased Mobility Act of 2025 |
| H.R.946 | 02/04/2025 | ORPHAN Cures Act |
| H.R.783 | 01/28/2025 | Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act |
| H.R.346 | 01/13/2025 | Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act |
Information in this article was obtained from the U.S. Congress. The source data can be found here.
