[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]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      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

[[Page S74]]

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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