StevesPlace: (H.R. 2764)

Excerpt:

What: This week Congress passed the 2008 fiscal year omnibus appropriations bill for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (H.R. 2764). The bill includes $50 million to help States implement improvements to driver licenses and other state-issued identification documents under the REAL ID Act of 2005, Public Law 109-13, which established national standards for state-issued documents being utilized for federal purposes. The president is expected to sign the bill into law in the coming days. This new emergency funding is in addition to the approximately $31 million DHS recently made available to States under the current REAL ID grant program.

Why: States have called upon the Federal government to provide funding to help meet the proposed requirements for REAL ID, which according to draft regulations developed by the Department of Homeland Security will include:

security features that must be incorporated into each card;
verification of information provided by applicants to establish their identity and lawful status in the United States; and
physical security standards for locations where licenses and identification cards are issued.

Final regulations are expected to be finalized in early 2008.

Where: For more information about REAL ID or the REAL ID Grant Program, please visit: http://www.dhs.gov/xprevprot/laws/gc_1172767635686.shtm or http://www.grants.gov.

PR-USA.net - Digimarc Market Update: 2008 Homeland Security Appropriation Includes $50 Million in REAL ID Funding