[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 20 (Friday, March 1, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1396-S1397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. BOXER:
  S. 1981. A bill to enhance penalties for fraud in connection with 
identification documents that facilitates an act of domestic terrorism; 
to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I am introducing two bills to help 
prevent terrorists from using false identification to gain access to 
our Nation's airports and airplanes.
  The tragic events of September 11 taught our Nation and the world a 
very harsh lesson about the safety of our skies. Congress responded by 
drafting and passing legislation to ensure enhanced security at our 
airports and on our airplanes. I worked hard with my colleagues on the 
Senate Commerce Committee to increase the security of our Nation's 
skies, and we succeeded in passing an airline security bill.
  However, there is still more we can do. Current law does not go far 
enough when it comes to guarding against the use of fake IDs by 
terrorists. The importance of this fact cannot be underestimated. As we 
now know, some of the terrorists who hijacked the planes on September 
11 did indeed use fake IDs to board the planes. My two bills include 
three ``T''s to prevent terrorists from using false identification--
technology, training, and tough sentences.
  First, the legislation I am introducing today will mandate training 
for airline personnel who are responsible for checking the 
identification of passengers.
  Second, my legislation would provide technology to catch fraudulent 
IDs. It would require the placement of ID technology in every airport 
across the Nation. This technology would check

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the validity of passengers' IDs, and could also include optical or 
facial scanners to determine if an individual is in a terrorist 
database. These technologies are out there, they're ready for use, and 
our airports should be using them starting now.
  Finally, I propose legislation to mandate prison time for anyone who 
produces, transfers, possesses, or uses a fake ID in connection with 
terrorism. Currently, in Federal law, there is no mandatory 
imprisonment for the production, transfer, possession, or use of a fake 
ID. Under any circumstances, even in relation to terrorist acts. This, 
to me, seems wrong. If you at any point and time facilitate an act of 
terrorism by providing someone with a fake ID, making a fake ID, 
possessing a fake ID, or using that fake ID, you should go to jail. 
Period. My bill makes sure that principle is reflected in Federal law.
  Last, my bill closes the loophole that punishes people for fake IDs 
used in acts of international terrorism, but not domestic terrorism. 
Under the USA PATRIOT Act the Congress passed last year, a definition 
of ``domestic terrorism'' was added to the criminal code. My bill makes 
sure that fake ID offenses related to domestic terrorism get the same 
punishment as those relating to international terrorism.
  It simply is not enough to have sporadic safeguards in a handful of 
airports. The bills I am introducing today will help close loopholes 
that currently serve as wide open doors for terrorists.

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