The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) is calling for a one year delay on the implementation of the Real ID program by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Scheduled to take effect on May 11, 2008, the new DHS ruling mandates that drivers' licenses issued by states not in compliance with the federal government's Real ID guidelines cannot be used as valid identification at the nation's airports, and that travelers must then present a passport or other form of federally approved identification.

"ACTE is requesting this delay for several reasons," said the association's Executive Director, Susan Gurley. "This is an identification program that is largely unknown to the traveling public, and it does not have unilateral support from the state governments. Business travelers from at least five states are going to be penalized because their locally elected officials have passed legislation prohibiting participation in this program. Sixteen other states, plus the District of Columbia, have yet to agree with the DHS."

Five states have passed legislation absolutely refusing to comply with the new federal guidelines. At this date, they are: Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. As the Real ID program is presented now, travelers from these states will be denied boarding at the nation's airports using a drivers' license as identification.

There are sixteen states still considering their stance on the issue. They are: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia, plus the District of Columbia.

"The issue is further confused by the timeline of the Real ID program," said Gurley. "The states must comply by the May 11th deadline, even though no actual changes need occur in their drivers' license documents until 2014. What is the rush to put this program through?"

In addition to the inconvenience foisted on the travelers from the five states that have rejected the program, Gurley foresees other difficulties at the airport. These include:

• Delays at the gate caused by travelers who will not have gotten the word and who will be denied boarding.
• Confusion on the part of personnel who must determine at a glance, or computer reference whose license can be accepted.
• Further stress on the already overburdened passport process by travelers who must now get a passport to travel domestically.
• The REAL ID program will rely on yet another government data base comprised of information taken from state drivers' license data bases.

Why does ACTE think these problems relating to the Real ID program can be resolved in a year?

"The traveling public needs more time to consider how these new regulations will affect them, and to be made aware of alternative efforts that may serve the same security objectives with less stress," said Gurley. "Divisive activity by pressuring states into accepting a mandate at the risk of inconveniencing travelers is not conducive to the best policy-making."

Gurley is referring to the Identification Security Enhancement Act S.717, described as a "compelling alternative to Real ID," and is cosponsored by four senators from both parties. A companion bill, H.R. 1117, introduced by Tom Allen (D-ME) has been cosponsored by 32 representatives. It has been stated that these bills would produce a more secure identification program, faster than the implementation date (2017) given by DHS.

"The Real ID program has the potential to impact millions of travelers from nearly half the country," said Gurley.

"ACTE is in the process on contacting governors from the 22 states that do not support the Real ID program to muster support for a congressional effort that will postpone any action on this program for one year."