(REAL ID Act) ACTE Presents U.S. Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka With Association's Highest Award

For background see ACTE Urges Repeal of REAL ID

For the first time in its 20-year history, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) has honored an elected official with its highest award. United States. Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka (D-Hawaii), was named the recipient of ACTE's President's Award, during the opening session of the association's Global Educational Conference in Washington, D.C. yesterday. Senator Akaka, a member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, was cited for his work on the Identification Security Enhancement Act (S. 717), which is recognized as the best alternative to REAL ID.

Speaking before a record crowd of 1,200 travel management executives, ACTE President Richard Crum said, "By proposing the Identification Security Enhancement Act, Senator Akaka has attempted to safeguard traveller privacy, provide the states with a realistic program to achieve increased drivers license security, and eliminate the potential for fraudulent ID to be issued through one compromised federal database. At the same time, Senator Akaka's efforts will reverse the divisive and unworkable aspects of REAL ID."

Receiving the award for Senator Akaka was Jennifer Tyree, Chief Counsel for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

ACTE officially endorsed the Identification Security Enhancement Act in submitted written testimony on 29 April 2008, and has recently launched a state-by-state awareness campaign, educating state legislators and travellers to the shortcomings of REAL ID, and the benefits of S. 717. REAL ID calls for creating yet another federal database in which to store sensitive data. This data may be shared by other governments or even third parties for identity verification. There is a risk that forged REAL ID documents would give criminals access to a vast domestic transportation network without ever undergoing a secondary check.

The Identification Security Enhancement Act allows for more secure licensing procedures without compromising traveller/driver privacy laws in each state and affords greater protection of the data. The bill has six other co-sponsors: Sen. Lamar Alexander (R, TN), Sen. Max Baucus (D, MT), Sen. John Kerry (D, MA), Sen. Patrick Leahy (D, VT), Sen. John Sununu (R, NH), and Sen. Jon Tester (D, MT).

A recent ACTE poll indicated that the majority of members wanted the association to investigate alternatives to the REAL ID Act, or support its repeal. According to association Executive Director Susan Gurley, S. 717 accommodates both.

"ACTE leadership sees S. 717 as a major turning point for the travelling public," said Gurley. "For the last six years, travellers have been confronted by one new regulation after another. Many of our members have provided commentary and input to government authorities without acknowledgment or satisfaction. The growing support for S. 717 indicates that major stakeholders in transportation expect to be heard."

ABOUT ACTE:
membership consists of senior travel industry executives from 82 countries representing the €200 billion business travel industry. With the support of sponsors from every major segment of the business travel industry, has offices in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and the United States. For more information on The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) represents the global business travel industry through its international advocacy efforts, executive level educational programs, and independent industry research. ACTE'sACTE develops and delivers educational programs in key business centers throughout the world. ACTEACTE, please go to www.acte.org

ACTE Urges Repeal of REAL ID

May 05, 2008

The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) urged the repeal of key sections of the REAL ID Act of 2005, in written testimony presented to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee last week. According to a statement issued by the association's Global Executive Director, Susan Gurley, ACTE then endorsed the proposed Identification Security Enhancement Act (S. 717) as a "realistic and reasonable alternative" to REAL ID.

The proposed enhanced identification program has sparked a battle between some state governments, which refuse to enforce the new national standards for driver licenses, and the Department of Homeland Security, which has required the new licenses for all air travel.

"The primary objective of any government security or identity program that impacts travel is to safeguard the lives and the livelihoods of travellers - while fostering confidence in the transportation network and the people entrusted with its protection," said Gurley. "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) REAL ID program falls short of these objectives."

Gurley's detailed the shortcomings of the REAL ID Act, saying it creates a dual standard of identification for U.S. citizens traveling domestically and storing sensitive drivers license data in a questionable manner that could place the U.S. travel network at risk through fraudulent documents.

"In an attempt to strengthen certain aspects of the states' drivers licensing program, the REAL ID Act inadvertently exposed these same systems to other weaknesses," commented Gurley. She also noted that state legislators and governors from California to New Hampshire were debating the effectiveness of the REAL ID Act, and that a substantial number did not support it. "Numerous security experts from around the country also questioned the degree of security promised by REAL ID, while expressing doubt that a massive new federal database would not be breached," she added.

ACTE's endorsed the Identification Security Enhancement Act by stating it offered tighter control over the drivers licensing process, without creating an additional federal identification document. According to Gurley, the proposed legislation adds enhanced security measures, including extended consideration for privacy laws enacted by the states, and provisions which prohibit the use of this enhanced identification by third parties. ACTE has been a longtime advocate of traveller redress and resolution in regard to data, and applauded the fact that the Identification Security Enhancement Act provides for due process.