REAL ID REVOLT: RAISE YOUR VOICE
From the Desk of Caroline Fredrickson
Director, ACLU Washington Legislative Office
Dear Friend,
States from Maine to Montana are in revolt against Congress's REAL ID scheme. By adding your voice today, you can help us prevent this 'Real Nightmare' from becoming a reality....

The REAL ID Act requires every American to have a standardized driver's license -- a de facto national ID -- to fly on commercial airlines or enter government buildings. It also requires driver's licenses to have a "machine readable component," that will be read everywhere, from retailers to airports.

This component -- combined with state databases of drivers' information -- will create one-stop shopping for identity thieves. More importantly, it will invade people's privacy by allowing easy tracking and monitoring of ordinary, law-abiding Americans.

Last month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed regulations to implement REAL ID. As required by law, the department is now accepting public comments on these proposed regulations.

Take Action: Submit your own comments telling the Department of Homeland Security and Congress that REAL ID is a 'Real Nightmare.' ..

Anyone in America has the right to submit comments to the government on this proposal. The government hasn't made submitting comments easy, but that just makes your comments more valuable. And we've made it much easier to submit comments than it normally is, with a step-by-step guide and talking points.

The number of comments will be watched by many influential Members of Congress, not just your own. So today you really have a chance to make a difference on the national stage. The extra impact is definitely worth the extra effort!

Take Action: Your comments to the Department of Homeland Security will make a huge difference in this debate:
..

REAL ID creates enormous administrative burdens for state governments, and it's a massive unfunded mandate that will cost state taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. The law forces state governments to remake their driver's licenses, restructure their computer databases and create an extensive new document storage system.

Five states have already said 'no' to Real ID, making the program pointless. More states are expected to follow suit. We hope this activity, combined with your comments today, will convince Congress to rethink this ill conceived law.

Submit Comments: Tell DHS and Congress that Americans reject REAL ID:

Congress needs to go back to the drawing board and fix Real ID. Many influential members of Congress will be paying close attention to the number of comments submitted by the public on REAL ID. By submitting your comments today, you will make it clear to DHS and Congress that Americans oppose this costly, intrusive and unworkable program.

Thank you for your extra effort today, it really does make a difference. I look forward to writing you to say, "this 'Real Nightmare' for Americans is over."

Sincerely,
Caroline Fredrickson
Director
ACLU Washington Legislative Office

P.S. For more information on the ACLU's efforts to defeat REAL
ID, go to: http://action.aclu.org/site/R?i=pn8BaTA8kf2N_3prglUAfA

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