Survivors of natural disasters like the Marshall Fire often have to pay thousands of dollars to replace documents necessary for rebuilding their lives
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, James Lankford, along with Representatives Joe Neguse and John Curtis introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Replacing Essential Passports and Licenses After Certain Emergencies (REPLACE) Act, a bill to automatically waive replacement fees when survivors lose critical documents like passports, citizenship documents, and visas in natural disasters.
“Wildfire and flood survivors have enough to worry about without also spending thousands to replace essential documents,” said Hickenlooper. “Let’s waive replacement fees so Coloradans can focus on recovery.”
“Natural disasters are nothing new for Oklahomans. While families focus on rebuilding and helping their neighbors recover, they shouldn’t have to worry about extra replacement fees for documents like passports. This bill will automatically waive those charges for families when disaster strikes,” said Lankford.
“In the aftermath of the Marshall Fire, our office assisted hundreds of Coloradans in recovering critical documents destroyed by the disaster. Whether a passport or a birth certificate, the fees for replacing all that was lost can quickly become overwhelming – which is why I am once again proud to join Senator Hickenlooper in championing the REPLACE Act, a bill to automatically make certain document replacement after disasters free of charge. Step by step, brick by brick, we’ll continue to work together on the road to recovery,” said Neguse.
“I’m pleased to reintroduce the REPLACE Act and address the urgent needs of disaster-impacted Americans by ensuring fee waivers for essential documents are automatically granted. When a wildfire destroys a home, the last thing that a family should worry about is paying fees to replace their documents like passports and birth certificates,” said Curtis. “This legislation is particularly crucial for rural Utahns, who will benefit from streamlined access to document replacements in times of need.”
Victims of major disasters can easily spend tens of thousands of dollars to replace critical documents lost during natural disasters including passports, employment authorizations, green cards, and more.
Under current law, federal agencies may waive the fees for the replacement of passports, visas, proof of citizenship, and other documents. However, the waiver process is not automatic – survivors may not know to wait for a fee waiver, and often need documentation immediately. Additionally, waivers are not guaranteed and are not always issued.
The REPLACE Act would amend the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 to require certain critical document fees be automatically waived for individuals and households that are affected by major disasters.
The REPLACE Act would automatically waive the cost of replacing:
- Passports
- Visa Forms
- Permanent Residence Cards
- Declaration of Intent forms
- Naturalization/Citizenship Documents
- Employment Authorizations
- Biometric service fees
Full text of the bill is available HERE.
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