The U.S. Senate's Homeland Security Committee this week approved legislation that would establish federal security standards for drivers' licenses and identification cards, a move lauded by the travel community because it replaces legislation that would likely have interrupted air travel by U.S. citizens had it not been preempted.

The so-called "PASS ID" program—negotiated by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman and ranking member Susan Collins, along with Sens. Daniel Akaka and George Voinovich—will require states to issue drivers' licenses that are compliant with federal standards by 2016, and to show that they're moving toward compliance by 2011.

The bill is intended to replace the 2005 REAL ID law, which was criticized by states as being unworkable and by the travel industry for threatening to hinder scores of U.S. travelers from either boarding U.S. flights or passing easily through security.

"Replacing REAL ID requirements with 'PASS ID' will ensure that air travel in 2010 is uninterrupted, as U.S. citizens will be able to board plans with their existing drivers' licenses while states come into compliance with new drivers' license standards," U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow said in a statement. "U.S. Travel thanks the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Chairman Lieberman and Ranking Member Collins for wisely addressing the potential chaos that would result from the REAL ID law as it stands. Many U.S. states had rejected REAL ID and were unlikely to comply with the national drivers' license requirements. Based on the current law, millions of U.S. travelers would either be barred from boarding U.S. flights or forced to undergo additional screening by TSA."

While PASS ID preserves the original pro-security intentions of the REAL ID law—which were to implement technologies that make forging a U.S. drivers' license virtually impossible and procedures for ensuring that documents people use to get a license are valid—its supporters argue that the new law will make enacting and enforcing requirements easier and more affordable for state governments.

Having cleared committee, the PASS ID law will now move to the full Senate for a vote. This page is protected by Copyright laws. Do Not Copy