National ID alert: Here we go again! Stop H.R. 5405

The H.R. 5405, titled "Social Security Identity Theft Prevention Act,"
is yet another innocuously sounding attempt at introducing a
national/federal identification program.

Oppositions by many state legislatures to implement the Restrict
Eligibility of Aliens for Licenses and Identification Documents (REAL
ID) Act derailed the GOP-led Congress's effort to force this 2005
backdoor introduction of quasi-mandatory national identification card
program. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security eventually had to
offer extension to all 50 states and greatly scale down the scopes of
REAL ID program.

Instead of repealing this failed boondoggle, Rep. Mark Steven Kirk of
the 10th district of Illinois introduced H.R. 5405 to create a
"tamper-proof and wear-resistant" Social Security card which is for
all practicality a photo ID card.

Furthermore, the bill provides for the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, through a memorandum of understanding with the Social
Security Administration, to issue the new Social Security cards using
the DHS facilities with the same machines that now produce "Green"
(LPR) cards and Laser Visas. -- (a)(3)(v).

In addition, Social Security cards, now issued free of charge to all
eligible persons, will cost money under this bill. -- (a)(3)(iv).

Co-sponsors of this bill at the moment are:
Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] - 4/10/2008
Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] - 4/9/2008
Rep Roskam, Peter J. [IL-6] - 2/13/2008

All Congressional actions:
2/13/2008: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E179, H926-927)
2/13/2008: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Remarks by Rep. Kirk:
"It's time we upgrade Social Security cards with photos and biometric
data like a fingerprint to protect seniors from identity theft and
prevent draining of Social Security trust funds. Many government
agencies already use secure IDs, including the Department of Defense.
An ID with a bar code embedded with biometric data, as well as a
picture, will help prevent counterfeiting. We have the technology
now--there is no excuse to use a document that anyone can forge at a
Kinkos. To protect seniors, fight identity theft and defend our
homeland, I urge my colleagues to join this effort."

Note this: biometric. Kirk wants the inhabitants of Fortress America
to have a military-style ID card.

More remarks by Rep. Kirk:
"Now, upgrading the Social Security card should be common sense. It's
about seniors. It's about identity theft. It's about illegal
immigration. And it's about keeping Americans safe. We saw on
September 11 that 18 of 19 hijackers had valid U.S. IDs during their
crime of the century. I think it's time to make sure that at least the
Social Security card has the 21st century protections that we can
offer to make sure that we protect seniors, to make sure that we
protect all Americans, and to protect the Social Security system.
That's why we think that this legislation to create these secure
Social Security cards is an idea whose time has come."

Note: While wrapped inside the warm-and-fuzzy language of "protecting
the seniors" this is really about so-called war on terror and war on
aliens.