State Department Still Buried Under Passport Paperwork

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E-mail volume has also varied greatly, with the center sending out from 2,000 to 9,000 responses daily. The e-mails are answered on a first-come, first-serve basis, and on June 15 the center began turning around responses within 24 hours of receipt, officials said.

But some e-mails have waited four days for a response, as volume fluctuated, and officials are working on a system that would automate a portion of the e-mail replies to improve capacity.

State Department officials think 6.5 million of the projected 17 million passports to be issued in fiscal 2007 were prompted by the new Western Hemisphere rule requiring Americans to show a passport when crossing U.S. borders.

For the most recent updates on passport requirements and timetables, go to http://www.travel.state.gov.

Talk Shows

Don Hale, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Defense Conference, and Witold Skwierczynski, president of the AFGE National Council of Social Security Field Locals, will be the guests on "FedTalk" at 11 a.m. today on Federalnewsradio.com and WFED radio (1050 AM).

Louis E. Samenfink, executive director of the cargo systems program office at Customs and Border Protection, will be the guest on the IBM "Business of Government Hour" at 9 a.m. Saturday on WJFK radio (106.7 FM).

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.

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