Senate bill would rescind important aspects of REAL ID
May 19, 2009
Federal and state officials have drafted legislation to replace a controversial 2005 law that set national standards for driver's licenses and identification cards, but critics say the proposal would not guarantee enough security.
The legislation is expected to be introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, and would repeal requirements set by the REAL ID law. Under the bill, the Homeland Security Department would conduct a nine-month rulemaking process, with states then having five years to comply, according to a draft obtained by CongressDaily.
But in a significant departure from the existing law, the bill would not bar people from boarding a commercial airplane solely for failing to have a state-issued ID card that met federal standards. State governments are expected to back the bill because many of its key provisions originated with the National Governors Association. The proposal also appears to have the backing of the Obama administration, which has been working with NGA on it. The Homeland Security Department declined to comment.
The Congress Daily (Washington, DC)
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