Buffalo Passport Agency Opens
Buffalo is the 19th U.S. passport agency open to the public. As Under Secretary for Management, Pat Kennedy, noted at the opening ceremony on October 18th, “The opening of the Buffalo Passport Agency symbolizes a milestone in the Department of State’s modernization efforts and demonstrates the growing importance of passport services to Americans.”
Western New York has a history of cross-border commerce with Canada and includes some of our busiest border crossings. This newest passport agency is well placed to help facilitate travel and trade between our two countries.
“The new passport facility is a long-term investment in our community and will enable Western New Yorkers to more easily conduct cross-border commerce,” said Congressman Chris Lee (NY-26).
The Buffalo Passport Agency, which has created more than 25 new jobs in downtown Buffalo, was made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, commonly called the federal stimulus bill. This Agency and others slated to open over the next year, are key elements in the Department’s overall efforts to facilitate travel to and from our northern and southern borders and worldwide.
“This new passport office delivers multiple benefits here locally,” said Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27), “In addition to providing better services for local residents, we are facilitating the smooth and efficient flow of traffic between Western New York and southern Ontario which is important to our economic future, and making a major long-term investment with job creation in our downtown core. This entire project is another victory for Western New Yorkers and I am pleased to join with my colleague Chris Lee, Secretary Clinton, and Under Secretary Kennedy to make this happen.”
More than 101 million Americans have U.S. passports – about one third of the U.S. citizen population. And with the opening of this newest agency, we hope to facilitate travel for even more U.S. citizens in Buffalo and the surrounding region.
For more information about the Buffalo Passport Agency, visit http://travel.state.gov/passport/npic/agencies/agencies_5149.html
