SR 21 - As Adopted by Senate, March 21, 2007

            Senators Brown, Gilbert, Pappageorge, Garcia, Richardville, Jansen, Birkholz, Kahn and Allen offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 21.

            A resolution to memorialize the United States Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security to develop a pilot program in Michigan for a dual purpose state driver's license/personal identification card to comply with the provisions of the Real ID Act and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

            Whereas, In response to the need for heightened security measures following the 9-11 attacks, Congress enacted the Real ID Act in 2005. This legislation requires the states to dramatically redesign their respective driver's licenses. Digital photos, proof of legal status, and centralized database capabilities will be required; and

            Whereas, Another component of recent federal legislation, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, also greatly alters the documentation required from American citizens seeking reentry into this country. By January 1, 2008, for example, United States citizens may be required to show passports when they drive across the border from Canada; and

            Whereas, With the new requirements of the Real ID Act, state driver's licenses would closely mirror passports not only in the way they are used by travelers, but also in providing a higher level of identification. There is an opportunity in this transition to explore the possibility of combining the secure technology of a passport into the driver's license and realizing significant savings without compromising the security that is the goal of the federal legislation; and

            Whereas, With some of the busiest international crossing points in the world, Michigan is well-suited for a pilot project to develop a dual driver's license/passport. With $70 billion worth of commercial traffic and nearly 3 million visitors crossing the Michigan/Canadian border each year, including thousands crossing for their jobs each day, Michigan has an unsurpassed stake in how the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative is implemented; and

            Whereas, Michigan's Secretary of State is in strong support of the concept of exploring a dual purpose state driver's license/personal identification card. The impact of such a project here could reap widespread benefits for our entire country; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That we memorialize the United States Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security to work with the Michigan Secretary of State to develop a pilot program in Michigan for a dual purpose state driver's license/personal identification card to comply with the provisions of the Real ID Act and the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the United States Department of Homeland Security, the Office of the President of the United States; the United States Secretary of State; the President of the United States Senate; the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives; the chairs and ranking members of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the United States Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the United States House Homeland Security Committee, and the United States House International Relations Committee; the members of the Michigan congressional delegation; and the Michigan Secretary of State.