U.S. nationals are required to hold a U.S. passport for entry (by air) into the U.S. Effective 6-1-09, all U.S. nationals traveling by sea or land must also hold a U.S. passport.
Click the link to read the DOS press release as well as a FAQ sheet on the topic.
www.medlawblog.com/DOS release on Passport Rule(1).pdf
www.medlawblog.com/Passport Rule.pdf
Lisa Ventresca