2015 -- H 5459

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LC001328

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

OPPOSING FURTHER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REAL ID ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Roberts, Nunes, Azzinaro, Abney, and Filippi

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     WHEREAS, In May of 2005, the United States Congress enacted the REAL ID Act of

2005 (REAL ID Act) as part of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the

Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief Act (Public Law 109-13). It was signed by President

Bush on May 11, 2005, and initially, it was to become fully effective on May 11, 2008; and

     WHEREAS, Due to mounting pushback from many states, implementation of the act was

delayed. However, the first two stages of compliance are now complete and the third phase is set

to be put into practice in October of 2015. These three phases require persons to use REAL ID

compliant cards in order to enter nuclear power plants, restricted federal facilities and semi-

restricted federal facilities such as courthouses and military bases; and

     WHEREAS, The fourth phase of the REAL ID Act is set to begin in January of 2016.

This requirement will be executed in airports across the country, with the Transportation Security

Administration still accepting a valid passport for identification, but no longer accepting state-

issued driver's licenses that lack the REAL ID compliant feature in order to board a plane; and

     WHEREAS, The implementation of the REAL ID Act intrudes upon Rhode Island's

sovereign power to determine its own policies for identification, licensure, and credentialing of

individuals residing therein; and

     WHEREAS, The REAL ID Act converts the state driver's licensing function into federal

law enforcement and national security functions that are outside the purpose and core competency

of driver licensing bureaus; and

     WHEREAS, The requirement that states maintain databases of information about their

citizens and residents and then share this personal information with all other states will expose

every state to the information security weaknesses of every other state; and

     WHEREAS, The REAL ID Act threatens the privacy and liberty of all Rhode Islanders,

but particularly those individuals belonging to unpopular or minority groups, including racial and

cultural organizations, firearm owners and collectors, faith-based and religious affiliates, political

parties, and social movements; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby respectfully requests Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation to

oppose and suspend further implementation of the REAL ID Act; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.

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LC001328

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