REAL ID: A STANDARD CARD FOR THE COMMON GOOD
On September 11, 2001, the worst terrorist attack on American soil was aided in part by fake identification cards. I’m pleased to report our state is among five leading the way to help ensure it doesn’t happen again.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Indiana has already joined Michigan, Nevada, Ohio and Wisconsin in passing REAL ID compliance-related laws. Fellow Senator Tom Wyss (R-Fort Wayne) has played a role in overseeing this process as co-chair of the Homeland Security and Preparedness Task Force for the NCSL.
What is REAL ID? It’s a law that originated from the 9/11 Commission requiring states to adopt consistent federal standards for driver’s licenses and identification cards. Once the law is fully implemented, terrorists who attempt to get by federal authorities with a fake ID card can be spotted more clearly and detained. At the same time, this program should prove relatively painless for the public at large. By requiring a uniform REAL ID card for anyone boarding commercial aircraft, a federal building, nuclear power plant or other purposes, our government is making this country more secure.
There have been several misunderstandings about this issue. Here are the “real” facts about REAL ID.
•It is not intended to be a national ID card. It simply sets minimum standards, so that the public can have confidence in the security and integrity of driver’s licenses and identification cards issued by all participating states and jurisdictions.
•Citizens won’t have to do anything to comply. These proposed regulations simply establish common standards for states in their issuance of drivers’ licenses and state identifications by December 1, 2017.
•Privacy won’t be compromised, in spite of the fact availability of information is made all the easier today due to technological changes in computers, digitized networks, Internet access and the creation of new products. The E-Government Act of 2002 recognized these advances also have important ramifications for the protection of personal information contained in government records and systems. The act ensures privacy be maintained with any new advancement with information systems.
•States and jurisdictions will maintain their ability to design and issue their own unique driver’s licenses and identification cards. Each state and jurisdiction will continue to have flexibility with regard to the design and security features used on the card, as long as there is a bar code on the back that serves as verification of data on the front. Most states already included minimum data elements required by REAL ID.
•It is not an unfunded mandate. To date, approximately $90 million in dedicated grant funds have been offered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to assist states with REAL ID implementation. This includes approximately $40 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 and $50 million in FY 2008.
While Indiana has been among the leaders in compliance with REAL ID requirements, some states have protested. According to the NCSL, legislators in 42 states have considered legislation that either asserted the state’s opposition to REAL ID or urged Congress to amend or repeal the act.
I think where national security is concerned, REAL ID is an appropriate measure, something that will have little inconvenience on the average citizen, but could mean everything to that citizen’s security.
What do you think?
Please contact me at State Senator Dennis Kruse, Indiana Senate, 200 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204 or call 1-800-382-9467, or send e-mail to S14@in.gov.
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