Wednesday
Jul152009
Napolitano And Others Pass On REAL ID
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 1:45PM
Annie Berman - Talk Radio News Service
The REAL ID Act of 2005 (REAL ID), which imposes certain security standards for the issuance of state drivers licenses and identification, calls for compliance requirements that are not realistic and must be reformed, says Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano.
As of yesterday, thirteen states have chosen not to comply with the standards of REAL ID because of budget costs and privacy concerns.
Almost every witness who testified at a hearing Wednesday morning suggested that passing the Providing for Additional Security in States Identification Act of 2009 (PASS ID) would be the best way to solve the problems of REAL ID.
“This is an important piece of national security legislation that is designed to help fill the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government set security standards for driver’s licenses,” Napolitano said about the PASS ID.
Just like the REAL ID Act, PASS ID would shift the authority of the states over identification to the federal level. PASS ID would allow for a more cost effective, secure plan towards creating a federal identification system for Americans.
“Privacy is a key driver in states that said ‘no’,” said David Quam, Director of Federal Relations for the National Governors Association.
Inadequate funding seems to be the largest problem with REAL ID. PASS ID would eliminate the development of costly data systems included in the REAL ID program that do not increase security. Instead, states would use existing database systems to verify social security numbers and immigration statuses of anyone whose identity is in question.
“The objectives of REAL ID are laudable but the law represents an unworkable and unfunded mandate that fails to make us more secure,” said Governor Jim Douglas (R-VT).
Douglas also testified that states are having trouble complying with all of the requirements of REAL ID due to the recession.
The REAL ID Act was originally created to counteract terrorists that try to obtain fraudulent identification, just as like the terrorists of September 11, 2001.
The REAL ID Act of 2005 (REAL ID), which imposes certain security standards for the issuance of state drivers licenses and identification, calls for compliance requirements that are not realistic and must be reformed, says Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano.
As of yesterday, thirteen states have chosen not to comply with the standards of REAL ID because of budget costs and privacy concerns.
Almost every witness who testified at a hearing Wednesday morning suggested that passing the Providing for Additional Security in States Identification Act of 2009 (PASS ID) would be the best way to solve the problems of REAL ID.
“This is an important piece of national security legislation that is designed to help fill the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government set security standards for driver’s licenses,” Napolitano said about the PASS ID.
Just like the REAL ID Act, PASS ID would shift the authority of the states over identification to the federal level. PASS ID would allow for a more cost effective, secure plan towards creating a federal identification system for Americans.
“Privacy is a key driver in states that said ‘no’,” said David Quam, Director of Federal Relations for the National Governors Association.
Inadequate funding seems to be the largest problem with REAL ID. PASS ID would eliminate the development of costly data systems included in the REAL ID program that do not increase security. Instead, states would use existing database systems to verify social security numbers and immigration statuses of anyone whose identity is in question.
“The objectives of REAL ID are laudable but the law represents an unworkable and unfunded mandate that fails to make us more secure,” said Governor Jim Douglas (R-VT).
Douglas also testified that states are having trouble complying with all of the requirements of REAL ID due to the recession.
The REAL ID Act was originally created to counteract terrorists that try to obtain fraudulent identification, just as like the terrorists of September 11, 2001.
Reader Comments (1)
With President Obama speeding to towards an immigration reform nightmare by labor day, and orchestrating a health care for all. If the Democrats release a behemoth Amnesty upon us, we will be paying over 2.5 trillion dollars towards just retirement and pensions, as testified by the Heritage Foundation. When these people send billions of dollars out the country in remittances, at the same time leeching billions of dollars from state and federal welfare programs. Most Americans only know about the education, free health care and money spent on housing the criminals. They also have access to food stamps, low income housing and hundreds of other undisclosed benefit programs distributed by each level of government.
As to health care modification? Americans should be able to choose either the private for-profit insurers, that we have always been stuck with? Or we should be able to have the choice of a Universal government-run medical care for the less fortunate. Follow the British system that fell into disarray, after the massive uncontrollable influx of commonwealth and foreign labor forced by European Union mandate. Prior to the immigration--legal and illegal impact it had a very exceptional reputation for looking after its own British/English population.
The American population must send these illegal immigrants home, as the businesses that hire them pay nothing to their upkeep. The burden falls to Americans to feed and support the impoverished 13 to 20 million illegal aliens. If Obama passes a new health care program, they will try to incorporate illegal immigrants in the new plan. I understand a program for all low income Americans, but we should not, cannot underwrite immigrant aliens and their families. Thats why we need to rigidly enforce E-Verify, local Police illegal immigrant arrest (287(g), Real ID Act (National standard for secure driver licences) and any other law. Because non-compliance by some states relating to the Real ID, the authorities are adding a possible amendment called the Pass act , which is less secure. DON'T ALLOW THE POLITICIANS IN WASHINGTON SINK (287(g) or the NO MATCH letter. We must watch every move the lawmakers made and tell them a resounding--NO--to anything that smells of AMNESTY. With the American jobless wake rising it's inconceivable that they would try to enact another AMNESTY. Then the rumors will fly and even more millions will slip from the woodwork, expecting AMNESTY for themselves once inside our sovereign nation.
Keep up the invaluable rumblings in the beltway at 202-224-3121 THAT THE POPULATION IS MAD AND NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE! Learn who your enemy is and who your friends at NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIALWATCH, CAPSWEB, HERITAGE FOUNDATION & AMERICANPATROL
ATTENTION! Because of the massive payments to illegal immigrants in California, their is a petition. Google--TAXPAYER REVOLUTION. Very few newspapers will mention this activist petition. When is the American flag going to fly again in the once Golden state?