Scott Air Force Base to enforce REAL ID requirements Sept. 15

In order to minimize adverse effects to the mission, HQ Air Force has granted a 30-day extension for Air Force bases to implement the REAL ID Act requirements.

On Sept. 15, Scott Air Force Base will be begin enforcing the REAL ID Act.

HQ Air Force has directed state issued identification cards or driver's licenses from Missouri, Washington, Minnesota, or America Samoa will no longer be accepted for unescorted access to Air Force installations, including Scott Air Force Base., SMSgt USAF James Hart said.

“These states and territories have not made adequate progress in meeting these security standards and therefore, these identification cards may not be used for unescorted base access as of Sept. 15,” he said.

Visitors to Scott Air Force Base who do not possess a Department of Defense identification card must have a Passport or another federally recognized photo identification for unescorted access to the base.

If visitors do not have a passport another form of acceptable ID, then they must be escorted by a sponsor while on Scott Air Force Base.

Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act enacted the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the federal government "set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses."

The Act established minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards and prohibits federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards.

The overall goal of the REAL ID Act passed by Congress is to prevent the fraudulent issuance and use of driver’s licenses and identification cards, thereby ensuring the safety and security of the american public. Given today’s threat environment, this requirement is as relevant now as it was when the 9/11 Commission recommended it.

Since its enactment, the Department of Homeland Security has implemented the law in careful phases, including most recently at military bases, most federal facilities, and nuclear power plants.

Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Washington, and American Samoa were subject to REAL ID enforcement beginning in January 2016 as noncompliant states that had not received an extension from DHS, Department of Homeland Security spokesman Aaron Rodriguez said.

“However, several months ago Illinois passed a law authorizing implementation of the REAL ID Act and DHS granted an extension to Illinois,” he said.

“Illinois is no longer subject to Real ID enforcement at federal facilities. Right now, Minnesota, Missouri, Washington State and American Samoa are the only states or territories subject to enforcement.”

What does this mean?

For future visitors coming to Scott Air Force Base, the base is no longer authorized to approve visitor passes through the base’s Visitor Control Center or through other channels for unescorted access.

If they do not have one of the listed alternate forms of approved federal identifications (for example, a passport), they must be physically escorted onto Scott Air Force Base by a member with a DoD identification card.

Visitors driving (or as a passenger) may enter Scott if they are escorted by another passenger who possesses a DoD identification card.

All deliveries and transportation entities must comply with the Act.

Acceptable Forms of Federally Recognized Photographic Identification

The following is a list of acceptable federally recognized photo IDs that can be used in lieu of a driver's license from Missouri or the other states/territory.

▪ Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent) in accordance with REAL ID enforcement schedule (www.dhs.gov/current-status-states-territories <http://www.dhs.gov/current-status-states-territories> )

▪ U.S. Passport

▪ U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)

▪  Employment Authorization Document issued by DHS (Form I-766)

▪  An ID card issued by Federal, State, or local government agencies with all the required REAL ID Act information

▪ U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Cards/Credentials

▪ Personal Identification Verification (PIV) card issued by the Federal Government

▪ Interoperable (PIV-I) cards issued by Non-Federal Government entities

▪ DHS "Trusted Traveler" Cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)

▪ Merchant Mariner card issued by DHS

▪ Border Crossing Card (Form DSP-150)

▪ U.S. Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-550)

▪ U.S. Refugee Travel Document issued by DHS containing a photograph (Permit to Re-enter Form I-327 and Refugee Travel Document Form I-571)

▪ Veterans Health Identification Card issued by the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs

▪ Foreign Government Passport

The history of REAL ID

After 9/11, the federal government began to look at ways to increase security surrounding state identification cards and driver’s licenses, in an attempt to prevent further terrorism and/or unlawful entry into and out of the country.

In 2005, the House of Representatives passed a bill into law called the REAL ID Act. This Act would set certain federal standards upon all driver’s licenses, which are currently regulated by each individual state. After being passed into law, the bill was tabled until 2007, when it was announced that the federal enforcement of the act would be postponed for a period of two years.

However, many state governments were slow to support this act, feeling that it not only infringed upon states’ rights handed to them by the 10th Amendment, but also created unnecessary cost to taxpayers in order to implement the change. It wasn’t until this year that the federal government announced that all states would need to be in compliance with the REAL ID Act by the end of 2017.

The Pros and Cons

Proponents of the REAL ID Act cite its advantages to national security. These measures ensure that non-citizens are unable to obtain a state-issued ID or driver’s license, and also prevent anyone without one from boarding aircraft or entering high-security locations. Similarly, these IDs would place the United States in the company of nearly 100 other countries in the world (including most European countries) that have some form of a national ID card.

However, many states oppose the implementation of the REAL ID Act based upon the estimated cost. The Act is a unfunded mandate, meaning that while the requirement is federally issued, the entire cost of recreating and re-issuing millions of licenses and ID cards would fall solely upon the states – without any financial assistance from the federal government. States are therefore required to raise their licensing fees in order to make up the added cost… putting an extra financial burden upon the licensee, who may simply be attempting to transfer one valid license into the REAL ID format.

Once the Act is fully implemented, residents without the new mandated ID will also be barred from boarding airplanes, entering nuclear facilities, and performing any other actions that require “official” federal identification. Citizens will need to provide a valid U.S. passport or permanent residency card in place of the new ID.

Another major concern is the idea of personal information being gathered and stored into what some are calling a “national database.” In order for the DHS and TSA to validate a citizen’s identity, they need to collect and store the information that otherwise would be solely kept by individual states. Many are worried about the “Big Brother”-esque implications this may have to personal privacy.

This story was originally published August 17, 2016 at 4:15 PM with the headline "Scott Air Force Base to enforce REAL ID requirements Sept. 15."