Golden Hails Real Id Regulations

Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C, Brooklyn), member of the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, today enthusiastically supported the final rule establishing minimum security standards for state issued drivers’ licenses and identification cards issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"This final rule is a win-win for every citizen of our Great Nation. We now have uniform standards that will provide better reliability of driver's licenses and ID cards nationwide. Our law enforcement will now have a much more effective advantage against falsified documents, and more importantly, every American should have peace of mind ," said Senator Golden.

Under the final regulation, REAL ID will combat document fraud by setting specific requirements that States must adopt for compliance which include: information and security features that must be incorporated into each card; proof of identity and U.S. Citizenship or legal status of an applicant; verification of source documents; and security standards for the offices that issue licenses and security cards.

"9/11 changed our world. Those hijackers who brought the war on terror to our shores had obtained 30 drivers’ licenses and ID’s and had almost 400 aliases. The REAL ID will make it much harder for future terrorists to get the documents to pass as U.S. Citizens. In addition to the tighter security, the Department of Homeland Security had reduced the state implementation costs for REAL ID compliance by about 73%, and funding to assist states in becoming compliant with this act," continued Senator Golden.

"Last year, I led the fight against those who wanted to hand out New York divers’ licenses like candy by giving them to illegal aliens. I was proud to stand up for law abiding citizens then, and I am glad that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is looking out for our security in the future with REAL ID," concluded Senator Golden.