Oppose Passport Revocation Bill: Protect Free Speech Rights

I am writing to express my deep concern about the new bill introduced by Rep. Brian Mast that would grant the Secretary of State the power to revoke passports of American citizens based on their speech or opinions. This legislation, which is part of a larger State Department reorganization and is set for an upcoming hearing, poses a significant threat to our fundamental right to free speech. While the bill claims to target "terrorists and traffickers," its broad language could easily be misused to deny citizens their right to travel based solely on their speech. The proposed legislation would allow the Secretary of State to revoke or refuse passports for individuals convicted or charged with material support for terrorism, as well as those determined to have provided material support to organizations designated as foreign terrorist organizations. The potential for abuse of this power is alarming. We have already seen instances where "material support" statutes have been broadly interpreted to punish speech. For example, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously revoked a Turkish student's visa based on an opinion piece. This sets a dangerous precedent for how such authority could be wielded. Furthermore, the bill's appeal process provides little protection against potential abuses. Both Republican and Democratic administrations could exploit this power to silence dissent or punish political opponents. This is not a partisan issue – it's a matter of protecting our constitutional rights. I urge you to oppose this bill and any similar legislation that threatens our First Amendment rights. No political party or branch of government should have the power to deny or revoke passports based on political speech, unless that speech explicitly calls for violence against the United States or its residents. We must stand firm in protecting our free speech rights, which are fundamental to our democracy. Please vote against this bill and work to ensure that our right to express opinions freely, even unpopular ones, remains protected. Our ability to travel should not be contingent on our political views or speech. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue.