REAL ID Act Modification for Freely Associated States Act

Bill 115 hr 3398, also known as the REAL ID Act Modification for Freely Associated States Act, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The bill aims to modify the REAL ID Act to allow citizens of the Freely Associated States (FAS) to obtain REAL ID-compliant identification cards.

The Freely Associated States include the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. Citizens of these countries are allowed to live and work in the United States under the Compact of Free Association, but they have faced challenges in obtaining REAL ID-compliant identification cards due to their unique status.

The REAL ID Act, passed in 2005, established minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards. These standards are meant to enhance the security of identification documents and prevent identity theft and fraud. However, citizens of the FAS have struggled to meet these requirements, as their countries do not issue birth certificates in the same way as the United States. The REAL ID Act Modification for Freely Associated States Act seeks to address this issue by allowing citizens of the FAS to use alternative forms of documentation to obtain REAL ID-compliant identification cards. This could include documents such as passports, social security cards, or other forms of identification that are recognized by the US government. Overall, the bill aims to ensure that citizens of the Freely Associated States are able to obtain the necessary identification cards to live and work in the United States without facing unnecessary barriers. It is currently being debated in Congress, and its passage could have significant implications for the FAS community in the US.