[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 12, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S73-S74]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Mr. DAINES (for himself and Mr. Tester):
S. 2440. A bill to amend the Real ID Act of 2005 to repeal provisions
requiring uniform State driver's licenses and State identification
cards, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs.
Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, in 2005, the Federal Government enacted
the REAL ID Act, imposing Federal standards established by the
Department of Homeland Security to the production and issuance of
States' driver's licenses and identification cards.
This law was an underfunded, top down, Federal mandate, infringing on
personal privacy and State sovereignty. Furthermore, a REAL ID
compliant State ID will be required for all ``official federal
purposes,'' including boarding commercial aircraft.
Twenty States have implemented laws prohibiting the implementation of
REAL ID. Montana led opposition to this Federal mandate. In 2007,
Montana enacted a law, after both chambers of the State legislature
unanimously passing legislation, refusing to comply.
That is why I am re-introducing the Repeal ID Act--to allow Montana
and
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other States to implement their laws. Consistent with the Montana State
legislature, this legislation will repeal the REAL ID Act of 2005.
Montanans are fully aware of the power that big data holds and the
consequences when that data is abused. Montana has shown how States are
best equipped to make licenses secure, without sacrificing the privacy
and rights of their citizens. The Repeal ID Act will allow us to strike
a balance that protects our national security, while also safeguarding
Montanans' civil liberties and personal privacy.
I want to thank Senator Tester for being original cosponsors of this
bill and I ask my other Senate colleagues to join us in support of this
legislation. I want to also thank Representative Zinke for leading
introduction of companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 2440
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Repeal ID Act of 2016''.
SEC. 2. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENTS FOR UNIFORM STATE DRIVER'S
LICENSES AND STATE IDENTIFICATION CARDS.
(a) Repeal.--Title II of the Real ID Act of 2005 (division
B of Public Law 109-13) is repealed.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Criminal code.--Section 1028(a)(8) of title 18, United
States Code, is amended by striking ``false or actual
authentication features'' and inserting ``false
identification features''.
(2) Intelligence reform and terrorism prevention act of
2004.--Section 7212 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-458) is amended to
read as it did on the day before the date of the enactment of
the Real ID Act of 2005.
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