IMMIGRATION BILL WOULD CODIFY REAL ID AS REQUIREMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT
The compromise language for the upcoming Senate Immigration Bill will include references to the Real ID Act, and provides that no non-Real ID compliant state driver's license or identification card may be used to verify identity for employment purposes after June 1, 2013.
The provision also includes authorization of up to $300 million per year for five years in grants for which states can apply. The grants would be distributed on a competitive basis. The measure also creates a system known as the Employment Eligibility Verification System (EEVS) and details the requirements, uses, and scope of the employment eligibility program.
The provisions raise several issues for states. First, the bill would extend the use of Real ID beyond identification for airline travel or entering federal buildings to include its use as identification for purposes of obtaining employment. Although it is not designated as the only document that can be used for such purpose, Real ID is clearly the favored form of identification under the bill.
In addition, the authorized total funding in the bill ($1.5 billion over five years) falls well short of the $11 billion states estimate it will cost to comply with Real ID. Additionally, the bill does nothing to correct other areas of concern for states, including the deadlines for compliance, the use of electronic verification systems, compliance with state and federal privacy laws or the appropriation of actual funds.
ENSIGN SUCCESSFUL IN SLOWING PROGRESS, FUNDING FOR YUCCA MOUNTAIN
Prior to the Memorial Day recess, opponents of the Yucca Mountain project were awarded a victory, when the project’s authorized spending was cut by more than $90 million. Senator John Ensign (R-NV) worked with his colleagues to successfully reduce the funding in the annual Defense Authorization bill.
The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), of which Ensign is a member, passed the annual Defense Authorization bill with a significant reduction in the Defense Nuclear Waste Disposal Fund. The Defense Nuclear Waste Disposal Fund allocates funds for the Yucca Mountain Project; their allocation this year reduces the fund from $333 million to $242 million for the upcoming year, reducing overall funds for nuclear waste disposal and ultimately, helping slow the progress of Yucca Mountain.FCC ACTS ON PUBLIC SAFETY PROPOSALS
On Thursday, May 31, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unanimously approved three proposals by its Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
First, it adopted a proposed rulemaking seeking comments on requirements to improve 911 location accuracy and reliability standards for wireless carriers and interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers.
Second, the FCC adopted several recommendations from an independent panel that concern improving communications among first responders, the communications industry, and government during a disaster like Hurricane Katrina.
Third, the commission approved new rules to modernize the current emergency alert system, including a requirement that participants have the capacity to accept messages under common alerting protocols, a requirement that terrestrial system participants transmit emergency alerts initiated by governors or their designees, and a requirement that wireline providers participate in the emergency alert system.
