Napolitano endorses new U.S. ID card plan

WASHINGTON, July 16 (UPI) -- U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano endorsed legislation to replace the stringent Real ID Act with a more flexible and less costly version.

Napolitano and National Governors Association representatives told U.S. senators the new plan, known as Pass ID, builds on what Real ID required after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but at less cost.

The governors group estimated the current law, with which states must comply by Dec. 31 unless it is superseded, would cost $4 billion while the new plan would cost $1.3 billion to $2 billion.

The new bipartisan measure, sponsored by Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, would "fix a bill that was flawed from the outset," The New York Times quoted Napolitano as telling the Senate Homeland Security Committee Wednesday.

The original bill, which has been rejected by 13 states, "represents an unworkable and unfunded mandate that fails to make us more secure," Republican Gov. Jim Douglas of Vermont and vice chairman of the governors association testified.

Real ID sponsor Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., said he opposes the new measure.

"Pass ID is nothing but a smoke screen, allowing the Obama administration and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to turn back the clock to pre-9/11 while putting America at risk," he said in a statement.