The federal government's attempt to create a de facto national identification card via implementation of REAL ID Act of 2005 at the state level has been successfully opposed by many state legislatures on the grounds that it violates personal privacy rights. Pennsylvania activists have opposed the PA Department of Transportation's (PennDOT) and Gov. Rendell's attempts to implement REAL ID mandates without the authorization of the PA legislature. Objections to the REAL ID Act have been raised on the grounds that it violates the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment and Pennsylvania statuatory law requiring a specific exemption in order to collect such personal information (as mandated by the REAL ID Act) unless one is suspected, through probable cause, of having committed a crime.

What: Because REAL ID has not been well received by the American public, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Neapolitano is trying a new tack with the introduction of S 1261: PASS ID Act. The PASS ID Act purports to oppose Real ID, however, a key personal privacy problem with it is that, like REAL ID, it requires a biometric facial image on all state drivers licenses and ID cards. Additionally, it allows for an RFID tracking chip to be embedded in the licenses/cards, also a key privacy protection violation. S 1261 is now before the Senate Committee for Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. (For more background on REAL ID, biometrics and privacy issues see my discussion topic
PA Legislative Action Update 6/2/09, esp. the REAL ID SUPPLEMENT toward the end, on this Meetup group's Message Board.

When: The hearing is this Wednesday the 15th.

Action: We and everyone we know nationwide need to call and/or fax the members of the committee so we can kill this bill before it gets to the Senate floor.

Tell them:

1. We are opposed to Real ID and the PASS Act
2. We are opposed to being enrolled in a Biometric Identification System
3. We don't want Social Security Numbers in our DMV databases
4. We don't want RFID chips in our Driver's Licences
5. We don't want federal intervention in the issuance of our State driver's licenses
6. We want them to secure our borders and coastlines instead of spying on law-abiding U.S. citizens.
7. We are not willing to trade our freedom for "security".

All of these actions are unconstitutional and a direct attack on our civil liberties and our unalienable rights.

Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:

Sen. Joe Leiberman, DC voicemail: [masked], fax: [masked]
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

Sen. Susan Collins, DC phone: [masked], fax [masked]

Sen. Daniel Akaka, DC phone: [masked], fax [masked]
Bill SPONSOR

Sen. Michael Bennet, DC phone [masked], fax: [masked]

Sen. Roland Burris, DC phone [masked] , fax: [masked]

Sen. Thomas Carper, DC phone: [masked], fax: [masked]

Sen. Thomas Coburn, DC phone: [masked], fax: [masked]

Sen. John Ensign, DC phone: [masked], fax: [masked]

Sen. Lindsey Graham, DC phone: [masked], Fax: none listed

Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, DC voicemail: [masked], fax: [masked]

Sen. Carl Levin, DC phone: [masked], fax: [masked]

Sen. John McCain, DC phone: [masked], fax: [masked]

Sen. Claire McCaskill, DC phone: [masked], fax: [masked]

Sen. Mark Pryor, DC phone: [masked], fax: [masked]

Sen. Jon Tester, DC phone: [masked], fax: [masked]

Sen. George Voinovich, DC phone: [masked], NO fax

*OR CALL THE CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD TOLL FREE AT 1-[masked] OR 1-[masked] AND ASK FOR EACH SENATOR'S OFFICE*

**According to Stop REAL ID Coalition Executive Director Mark Lerner, Senator Lieberman is not having, nor allowing, anyone who is in opposition to the PASS Act, to testify before the committee! He is hijacking our right to representation, our right to dissent and our right to seek redress. Focus heavily on Senator Lieberman and inform him that not only does he have NO authority to limit dissent, but he also has NO authority to stop it! (Please be respectful and do not use foul language. Be professional and direct; immature behavior and foul language does not help our cause.) If you'd like for Mark Lerner to be able to testify, add that to your conversation stating “allow Mark Lerner to testify”. **

NOTE: I've scheduled this meetup to take place the morning of the 15th to allow ample time to RSVP. Please start calling BEFORE the 15th. It should take you only about 16 minutes to accomplish (approx. one minute for each committee member). If you are unable to contact all committee members in one day, I would urge you to contact as many as you can. If you can do only 3, focus on Lieberman, Akaka and maybe our Ohio neighbor Voinovich, or split the list between Monday and Tuesday. Whatever you're capable of doing.

Faxzero allows you to send 2 free faxes daily or for cheap and easy faxes use http://www.faxyouropi....

THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND DEDICATION!!!

--Gary

PASS ID IS A GLOBAL BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

NOW EVEN PRIVATE CITIZENS CAN TRACK YOU!!