WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI) spoke today on the Senate floor in support of the Identity Security Enhancement Act, S. 717, to repeal the controversial REAL ID mandate, which would create a nationwide ID card and database.
The new rules proposed in S. 717 would combat the threat of terrorism while taking reasonable steps to safeguard Americans' privacy rights, fight identity theft, and ease the burden on states to fund the new federal requirements. Akaka reintroduced the bipartisan repeal bill yesterday with Senator John Sununu (R-NH) , along with original cosponsors, Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Jon Tester (D-MT).
The text of Senator Akaka's statement follows:
"Mr. President, today the Department of Homeland Security released its much anticipated proposed regulations implementing the REAL ID Act of 2005.
"Although I am still reviewing the 162 pages of regulations, I note that the regulations address the problems with the statutory May 11, 2008 deadline for compliance. However, the regulations remain troublesome because they reflect the problems of the underlying statute.
"I intend to ensure that these problems are resolved, which is why I reintroduced the Identity Security Enhancement Act, S. 717, to repeal REAL ID and replace it with the negotiated rulemaking process and the more reasonable guidelines established in the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. I am pleased to be joined by Senators Sununu, Leahy, and Tester. I also want to thank Senator Collins for her work on this issue.
"From its inception, REAL ID has been surrounded in controversy and subject to criticism from both ends of the political spectrum. The act places a significant unfunded mandate on states and is a serious threat to privacy and civil liberties.
"Mr. President, I support the goal of making our identification cards and driver's licenses more secure, as recommended by the 9/11 Commission. However, the massive amounts of personal information that would be stored in interconnected databases, as well as on the card, could provide one-stop shopping for identity thieves. As a result, REAL ID could make us less secure by giving us a false sense of security.
"Nearly half of our nation's state legislatures - 22 -- have acted to introduce or to pass legislation to condemn REAL ID since the beginning of the year. In some cases states would be prohibited from spending money to implement the Act. Two bills have been introduced in the Hawaii State Legislature, one supporting the repeal of REAL ID and the other supporting passage of my legislation.
"As I noted earlier, DHS has acknowledged the implementation problems and the need to help address the burdens on states. Secretary Chertoff announced today that states could easily apply for a waiver from the compliance deadline and could use up to 20 percent of the State's Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSGP) funds to pay for REAL ID implementation. But this is a hollow solution. The President's FY08 budget proposes to cut SHSGP by $835 million. "I fail to see how states are able to implement an $11 billion program with federal homeland security grants that the Bush Administration continues to cut.
"Moreover, the regulations proposed today fail to address several of the most critical privacy and civil liberties issues raised by REAL ID, which essentially creates a national ID. No hearings were held on REAL ID when it was passed as part of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief Act in 2005. I think this is part of the problem and is where I hope to bring forth a solution.
"As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, I plan to hold hearings in the near future to review the proposed regulations and how DHS plans to implement this costly and controversial law.
"Unfunded mandates and the lack of privacy and security requirements are real problems that deserve real consideration and real solutions. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that driver's licenses and ID cards issued in the United States are affordable, practical, and secure - both from would-be terrorists and identity thieves.
"I look forward to working with my colleagues - Senators Sununu, Leahy, Tester, Collins and others to address the real problems with REAL ID. Thank you, Mr. President."
An audio MP3 file of Senator Akaka's speech is available at this Internet address:
http://demradio.senate.gov/actualities/akaka/akaka070301_floor_statment.mp3
The speech was carried live on CSPAN2.
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