FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rep. Green, Tennessee Congressional Delegation, Urge State Department to Reconsider Nashville for New Passport Agency
NASHVILLE, Tenn—Today, Rep. Mark Green, along with the entire Tennessee Congressional delegation, sent a letter urging Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to reconsider Nashville for the Department of State’s new passport agency location.
Rep. Green said, “The Department of State should reconsider Nashville as a location for its new passport agency. Nashville is a prime location to house a new passport facility that will benefit Tennesseans and neighboring states alike. With I-65, I-40, and I-24 connecting the region, there are few better places for Tennesseans and others to get passport services, especially in an emergency.”
An excerpt from the letter reads:
Despite the addition of six new passport agencies, Tennesseans will still face significant travel burdens to access these services. From Nashville, TN, the closest agencies will be in Cincinnati, OH (4.5 hours), Charlotte, NC (6.5 hours), Atlanta, GA (4 hours), and Hot Springs, AR (6 hours). This is unacceptable, especially considering the urgent circumstances that many of our constituents face when seeking a passport. Our caseworkers regularly encounter individuals who require expedited passport services, and it is incredibly difficult to advise them to travel such long distances.
Nashville’s central location makes it an ideal site for a future passport agency. Our state's geographic position would allow for easier access to passport services for Tennesseans and citizens from neighboring states. We believe that establishing a passport agency in Tennessee would greatly benefit the region and align with the Department's stated goal of providing prompt customer service to more Americans.
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