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March 2005
THE REAL ID ACT OF
2005 (H.R. 418)
PASSES THE HOUSE!
HELP US GET IT THROUGH
THE SENATE
CRITICAL AMENDMENTS
REQUIRED
BALANCE and its ASAP! Coalition Allies led the fight
to secure passage of H.R. 418 (Sensenbrenner, R-WI),
the "REAL ID" bill, that promises both effective
immigration reform and anti-terrorist measures.
We trust this is only the first of many steps in the
direction not simply of immigration reform but also
immigration reduction. While the focus is understandably
on illegal aliens, we must continue to remind Congress
of the importance of reducing the numbers of legal immigrants
as well.
The fight for H.R. 418 is not over yet. The
Senate must pass its version. You can help the cause
by writing, calling, faxing, or emailing your Senators
and asking them to support the Senate version of H.R.
418.
Please take into account the information below and
ask your Senators to consider carefully some sections
of the bill that have the potential to open the wrong
doors - potentially diminishing the civil liberties
of American citizens.
H.R. 418 ILLUSTRATES THE PITFALLS OF THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS
When H.R. 418 was making its way through the House,
the original version contained some troubling language
concerning unilateral authority granted the Secretary
of the Department of Homeland Security. This language
is not in the version that passed the House. It is
important, however, to realize that it might reappear
in the Senate version or in the process of reconciling
the House and Senate versions of the legislation. It
is vitally necessary to lobby against the inclusion
of such language right up to the point when the bill
is sent to the president. In addition, there are potential
problems still in the bill that BALANCE believes must
be addressed.
1) BALANCE is concerned this bill might lead to the
creation of a National ID.
The version of H.R. 418 that the House passed does
not explicitly create a National Database or ID. It
does, however, stipulate that State databases are to
be linked (Sec. 203 of Title II). This allows one State
to ask another State about the validity of a particular
driver's license. The legislation leaves the door open
for the creation of a National Database and National
ID . BALANCE recommends the final bill contain language
explicitly forbidding the creation of a National
Database and National ID.
2) BALANCE is concerned by the possibility the Senate
version might grant unilateral authority to the Secretary
of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
As originally introduced, Title II, Sec. 202, (e)
(1) and (2) of H.R. 418 gave the Secretary of DHS discretionary
power to "prescribe one or more design formats
for driver's licenses and identification cards"
to protect national security interests. This was not
included in H.R. 418 when it passed the House. It is
important, however, to make sure that this provision
does not reappear in the Senate version or in any version
produced by a House-Senate Conference.
It is still possible to insert language that would
grant the Secretary of DHS unilateral authority to list
various kinds of biometric data among the minimum categories
of information now required under the legislation. Biometric
data could include, for example, eye scans for all driver's
licenses in the United States. This would create
a de facto National ID card!
3) BALANCE is concerned about the potential for
linking U.S. driver's license databases and Mexican
and Canadian driver's license databases.
State databases are not only to be linked to each
other but States must also join the AAMVA's (American
Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators) "Driver's'
License Agreement" (DLA). The DLA notes that the
States and Provinces of Mexico and Canada are eligible
to join the agreement (several Canadian provinces have
already joined). This creates the possibility for a
gigantic TRI-NATIONAL DATABASE and a TRI-NATIONAL ID.
BALANCE recommends the final bill contain language
explicitly forbidding the creation of a TRI-NATIONAL
DATABASE and TRI-NATIONAL ID.
SUMMARY
Support H.R. 418, The REAL ID ACT of 2005 (the Sensenbrenner
Bill), but urge your Senators to improve the language
of the legislation:
- Prohibit the possibility of the
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security exercising
unilateral authority to impose uniform requirements
on State driver's licenses, such as requiring eye
scans on all licenses
- Prohibit the possibility of a National
ID or Tri-National ID
TAKE ACTION
1) Write, FAX, call, or email your Representative and
Senators (contact information is available at www.House.gov
and www.Senate.gov) and ask them to do the following
- support H.R. 418, the REAL ID Act
of 2005, but with the reservations listed above
- oppose any amnesty for the 20 million
or more illegal aliens; be on the lookout for code
words such as "earned legalization" or "guest
worker" program - laws prohibiting illegal immigration
are on the books - they merely need to be enforced
- support a moratorium on legal immigration
in excess of 100,000 annually. Explain to them that
it is essential to reduce legal immigration in order
to reduce illegal immigration. Legal immigrants are
family magnets encouraging many illegal aliens to
join their legal relatives.
2) Talk with friends, family, and neighbors about immigration
reduction; write letters to your local paper about immigration
reduction; speak to local civic groups and clubs about
immigration reduction.
3) Multiply the impact of BALANCE by giving one or
more gift memberships or by becoming a sustaining member
or by making a special donation - take advantage of
the PayPal feature on the BALANCE web site (www.Balance.org)
or use the 800 number (1/800/866-6269 - 1/800-TOO MANY)
or write to BALANCE at 2000 P. Street, NW, Suite 600,
Washington, DC, 20036.
SOURCE: Population Reference Bureau
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POPULATION-ENVIRONMENT
BALANCE
Phone: 202-955-5700
FAX: 202-955-6161
E-Mail: uspop@us.net
http://www.Balance.org |
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