PRINTER'S NO. 1654
No. 296 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY SIPTROTH, JOSEPHS, THOMAS, MARKOSEK, McCALL,
CARROLL, SCAVELLO, CONKLIN, SANTONI, DeWEESE, MANDERINO,
DALLY, W. KELLER, WALKO, FREEMAN, KULA, SEIP, COSTA,
PETRARCA, PALLONE, CASORIO, HARKINS, CURRY, HARHAI, SAINATO,
HORNAMAN, R. TAYLOR, BIANCUCCI, GRUCELA, RAMALEY, WANSACZ,
GOODMAN, KING, MUNDY, GEORGE, FAIRCHILD, BEYER, HENNESSEY AND
BARRAR, MAY 23, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, MAY 23, 2007
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Opposing implementation of costly Federal standards imposed
2 under the REAL ID Act of 2005 (REAL ID Act).
3 WHEREAS, Enacted without congressional hearings or
4 deliberation and without specific allocation of funds as part of
5 a 2005 emergency spending bill, the REAL ID Act constitutes an
6 unfunded mandate to the states; and
7 WHEREAS, The estimated total cost to states and individuals
8 nationwide of conforming to minimum Federal standards is $23.1
9 billion; and
10 WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States has appropriated
11 $40 million; and
12 WHEREAS, Compliance in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania would
13 cost taxpayers approximately $86 million; and
14 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is receiving no
15 Federal funds, including no statutorily authorized United States
1 Department of Homeland Security grants, to implement the Federal
2 standards; and
3 WHEREAS, Federal regulation of identification-based security
4 provides limited benefits and raises new privacy concerns; and
5 WHEREAS, Federal regulation of identification-based security
6 encroaches on existing State policies for identification,
7 licensure and credentialing of residents; and
8 WHEREAS, Legislation recommending full funding or rejecting
9 the REAL ID program is pending in a growing number of states,
10 including Maine, Idaho, Arkansas, Montana, Washington and
11 Georgia; therefore be it
12 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
13 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania oppose implementation of
14 costly Federal standards imposed under the REAL ID Act; and be
15 it further
16 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
17 the United States Secretary of Homeland Security, to the
18 presiding officers of each house of Congress and to the members
19 of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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