Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) issued the following statement at a news conference on the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to delay implementation of Real ID Act requirements by two years:
“This is a victory for states and a defeat for Washington, D.C., imperialism. The decision gives any state two years to implement Real ID. It also gives Congress time to reconsider Real ID in light of the development of a biometric work card to stop illegal immigration.
“This still leaves the problem of making sure that Real ID does not become a huge unfunded federal mandate. Working with Sen. Collins and others, I will work to make sure that the federal government pays the bill for what the federal government requires.”
The DHS decision, announced by Secretary Michael Chertoff, mirrors key provisions of an amendment Alexander had introduced Wednesday with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and several other colleagues.
“Sen. Collins deserves great credit for her leadership on this issue,” Alexander also said.