National ID Card Provisions Failed

Rep. Davis votes against S 2845 after language stripped

Here’s the press release from Rep. Jo Ann Davis:

Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis (R-VA) made the following statement following her vote against S 2845, the National Intelligence Reform Act, which passed the House of Representatives.

“Today the House of Representatives had an opportunity to pass strong intelligence reform legislation that would protect our Nation while reforming our intelligence capabilities and operations. Unfortunately, key provisions on illegal immigration that would have strengthened our national security and accomplished these goals were taken out of the final intelligence bill by the United States Senate, and therefore, I was unable to support it,” said Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, a member of the Select Intelligence Committee.

“While efforts to overhaul our intelligence system are desperately needed, doing so without correcting ways in which terrorists can “legally” move through the country is counterproductive. One of the factors that enabled the 9/11 terrorists to carry out their plan was their access to driver’s licenses and identification cards. The terrorists obtained sixty-three driver’s licenses- some from Virginia. Identification cards also helped them remain in the United States well after their visas had expired. In fact, one of the 9/11 terrorists was stopped for a traffic violation two weeks prior to the attacks and was given a summons to appear in court. A provision in the House version of this bill that I supported called for national standards for obtaining driver’s licenses, as well as the simultaneous expiration of identification cards and visas. These provisions were stripped in the final bill,” said Davis.

“Reforming our intelligence system without strengthening our immigration problems is like fixing the cracks in a dam without plugging the hole. It just doesn’t work,” added Davis.

The National ID Card row was brought to the fore with the McCain-Lieberman amendment, which standardized with federal regulations the process in which driver’s licenses and registration cards were issued. The NSLC (National State Legislatures Conference) was opposed to the provision as it’s cost was yet to be determined and rather large.

Several pro-liberty organizations rallied against the bill and more than likely contributed to the defeat of the McCain amendment. This having been said, the problem of a lack of accountablility for state identification cards is an issue that was brought up in the days after 9/11, and one that seemingly has not been adequately addressed.