Letter Rachel M. Arndt, Deputy Assistant Secretary Passport Services Directorate, Bennet Urges Department of State to Waive Fees for Reissuing Passports Lost In the Marshall Fire

Letter

January 20, 2022
Deputy Assistant Secretary Rachel M. Arndt
Passport Services Directorate
U.S. Department of State
600 19th Street NW, Fourth Floor
Washington DC 20006
Dear Deputy Assistant Secretary Arndt:
On December 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire devastated communities in the towns of Superior and
Louisville and other parts of unincorporated Boulder County in Colorado, destroying or damaging
nearly 1,300 homes and structures. As families recover from losing their physical belongings,
including government issued identification, I ask you to waive the fees required to reissue
passports that were lost during the Marshall Fire to aid victims in their recovery.
Ahead of President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden's visit to survey the damage on January 7,
2022, I asked U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to waive fees for replacing
important documents, such as visas and green cards. USCIS assured me that it would waive fees,
and quickly followed up with an application that could be utilized while the agency updated its
policy. I ask that you follow USCIS's lead and update your policy to waive costs associated with
the replacement of passports lost or destroyed in the Marshall Fire. I also request that you provide
me with an assurance of this waiver by Monday, January 24, 2022, to quickly support the victims.
Should you have any questions or if you wish to discuss this matter further, please contact Santiago
Gonzalez in my office at Santiago_Gonzalez@bennet.senate.gov.
Sincerely,
_________________
Michael F. Bennet
United States Senator

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