The National Governors Association, the National Conference of State Legislatures and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators commend the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee’s action on the REAL ID Modernization Act:
“Our collective associations have long called for and offered constructive and cost-effective recommendations for implementing and enforcing REAL ID. The REAL ID Modernization Act represents tremendous collaborative efforts to improve and modernize the current REAL ID Act.
“Specifically, we thank the committee for including language to permanently authorize REAL ID grants, allow for electronic presentation of identity and lawful status information and improve the use of electronic tools and capabilities. We look forward to working with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure these new tools are implemented successfully.
“However, we remain concerned about the prolonged financial and service capacity impact the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is having. States and territories will need significant time and resources to implement the enhancements made available in the Act.
“We call on Congress to act swiftly on the REAL ID Modernization Act so that states and territories have all the flexibility they need to adapt to the challenges posed by COVID-19 and so that they can initiate those improvements in time to meaningfully help customers before the Oct. 1, 2021 implementation deadline.”
