Speech #1050175728

It does not go beyond the scope of that. and it does not go beyond the scope of what properly may be an appropriations bill. such as the one currently before this body. Mr. Chairman. the problem with these rules proposed by the Department of Transportations National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is that while purporting to implement Section 656 of the Illegal Immigration and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. they go far beyond the intent of that legislation as passed by this Congress. The intent of that particular section of the legislation was simply to provide that there be proposed and implemented a tamperresistent alien identification card. and to take steps to ensure that identification cards do not allow for fraudulent uses and purposes and manufactured by illegal aliens. However. in the rule proposed by the administration. there is a very clear directive intent that would result In the development of a national identification card. The rule would do this by providing that after October 1 of the year 2000. all Federal agencies may accept as proof of identity only a drivers license or identification document that conforms strictly to certain specific and uniform requirements. and that if any State drivers license issued by any State fails in any respect to conform to such requirements. it shall not be acceptable for any Federal purpose or by any Federal agency. The proposed rule also requires that all drivers licenses or identification cards issued by States contain a Social Security number. Mr. Chairman. this clearly is designed to go far beyond the scope of the provisions contained in Section 656 of the aforementioned 1996 immigration law. It was not the intent of that bill or of the Congress to establish a national identification card. or to require that all States issue only drivers licenses in a format required by the Federal Government. This proposed amendment to the transportation appropriation bill simply would require. by its refusal to allow any funds to be used to implement the proposed rule contained in the June 17. 1998. Federal Register. it would simply force the administration to go back. reconsider its rule. and come forward with a rule that hopefully would be in conformity with the intent of section 656 of the 1996 immigration bill. and would force them to amend the current proposed rule. which goes far beyond the intent of Congress in passing that particular section in 1996. I believe it is the clear desire of this Congress not to see a national identification card implemented. which these proposed rules. if they are not stopped at this point. will in fact result in. With that.