State gets federal funding for Real ID program

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Missouri will get $17 million to help develop and test the Real ID program and will house a verification hub to help states validate identification cards.

The federal Real ID Demonstration Grants were announced Friday by the Homeland Security Department.

Officials with the Missouri Department of Revenue said the money will help the state develop and test a national "verification hub," a key factor in allowing states to validate licenses and identification cards.

"We would be a single access point for different states," said David Griffith, spokesman for the Missouri Department of Revenue. "Missouri is in the position to improve security for all state drivers' licenses."

The Bush administration says Real ID's requirement for more secure identification will hinder terrorists and illegal immigrants.

Under Real ID, states would have to bring their driver's licenses under a national standard and link their license record-keeping systems.

Implementation of Real ID would require the public to show need Real ID-compliant driver's licenses or other identification in order to enter federal buildings or board airplanes.

But some states have viewed the act as an unfunded mandate and critics say it's a violation of privacy for the government to have access to so much information. In some states, residents have staged protests condemning the Real ID Act.

Missouri Rep. Jim Guest, a King City Republican, has been a vocal opponent of Real ID.

"I would oppose that even if they fund it," he said Friday. "I don't think you can put a price on your privacy. This nation is at a crossroads right now, and if we go down the road and lose more freedoms, we'll never get them back."

Each of the 48 states that applied for federal grants to assist with the program will get some funding.

While Missouri is set to lead the development of the "verification hub," four other states will also be instrumental, Homeland Security officials said in a news release.

Florida, Indiana, Nevada and Wisconsin will each receive $1.2 million to partner with Missouri for the hub testing and implementation.

Eventually, other states and territories will connect to the verification hub and have the capability to verify applicants' source documents.