The PASS Act
During that hearing it became clear that the Real ID had become a heavily resisted mandate by States. While the committee only recognized 13 States who opposed the program, 25 states had passed State legislation refusing the Real ID Act. Members of the Senate present during the hearing recognized the Real ID Act had evaded due process and are now trying to move forward with the PASS Act, a legislation to replace the Real ID Act. During this hearing Secretary Janet Napolitano declared the Real ID Act, “D.O.A” or dead on arrival, suggesting an end to plausible means to move forward on the 2005 legislation.
Real ID proponents, like Secured Drivers License Coalition, report that many states are close to fulfilling the 18 benchmarks on a DHS compliance deadline set for December 31, 2009. They reported that up to 16 states are in favor of the continuance of Real ID. Representatives James Sensenbrenner who introduced the Real ID Act,
still defends a legislative work that managed to evade public debate and due process regardless of the damages to personal privacy and civil liberty it may cause.
"In examining how terrorists were able to attack America, the Commission found that all but one of the 19 terrorists used drivers licenses to board the planes that were used as weapons in the attacks that killed 3,600 people.
The commissioners recognized that easily obtained drivers licenses, were a security vulnerability, stating, for terrorists, travel documents are as important as weapons."
We disagree with accepting the reccomendations of the 9-11 Commission report because there is much contrary evidence against a precedent for terrorism based on American identity. The argument is briefly demonstrated in this video report, by journalist Jack Hunter.
The PASS Act is still playing into a global plan for surveilled identity using the regulated technologies in the Real ID Act. What is imperative at this time is for anti-Real ID advocacy to increase in Washington and for your voices to rise up against this.
By submitting your demand for a comprehensive repeal of Real ID, you can arrest the deadline to implement the next National benchmark for Real compliance: Dec. 31, 2009.
There is something you can do closer to home that will make a REAL difference.
Find your representatives here:
Contact your congressional representatives & local Senators and demand a comprehensive repeal of the Real ID Act.
Tell them:
- You will not accept any Real ID substitution, like what is proposed in the PASS Act.
- Over 6 years have passed where the 9-11 Commission's recommendations have not created better protection for American identity. We can wait a little longer, until leaders can figure out a plan which won’t endanger personal privacy, identity security and civil liberty.
- You will not accept less freedom, for more security.
- The Real ID Act as written is costly and dangerous and is fit for repeal.
- They should suspend enactment until they can find a safer way to provide security for American identity.
You might oppose the PASS Act because:
- It sustains government waste through continued mandate of insecure technologies like biometrics & RFID tags, against documented failures in the U.S. VISIT pilot program.
- It does not remedy the needs to regard personal liberty & State precedents for constitutional privacy.
- States must still pay for the implementation from their own budget.
- You continue to oppose the expansion of Real ID regulations in your State.
- You support the local efforts to stop Real ID.
If you feel especially bold, you can send over our model legislation as an example of what you REALLY want from the U.S. federal Government.
Download the
American Identity Preservation Act of 2010
[a working title]
INFORMATION SOURCES ON THE PASS ACT
Wikipedia on PASS Act & Real ID Repeal
TRACK S. 1261 - The PASS Act.
PASS ACT Hearing, July, 15 2009
>>DHS Secretary Testimony
>>VIDEO Archive
POLITICS & POLICY
