HR 1457119th CongressIn Committee

IDs for an Inclusive Democracy Act

Introduced: Feb 21, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The IDs for an Inclusive Democracy Act would require the Social Security Administration (SSA) to create and provide at no cost a federal identification card that can be used to meet identification requirements in various contexts (to the same extent as a state-issued driver’s license or ID). The SSA would issue these IDs within 3 years and work through a federal Task Force on Federal Identification Cards to set the technical and security standards, determine data elements, and oversee implementation. The card would include standard biographical information, a gender option of male, female, or X, a photo, a unique ID number, issue and expiration dates, and security features plus machine-readable data. The identification would be valid for 10 years, with special rules for individuals under 18 and those 65 or older. The act also requires a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) application process modeled after the passport system, a public education campaign, and the development of voluntary best practices to help vulnerable populations obtain the ID. A Task Force would be established to oversee requirements, privacy protections, and coordination across federal agencies, with termination once the ID becomes available.

Key Points

1SSA-issued, no-cost federal identification within 3 years that can satisfy identification requirements in place of or alongside state-issued IDs.
2Card contents and security: includes full name, date of birth, gender with an X option, photograph, unique identification number, issue and expiration dates, tamper-resistant security features, and a machine-readable data element set defined by the Task Force.
3Eligibility and validity: open to individuals 14 years and older; 10-year validity, with special rules for minors (valid until age 18, then renewal) and for 65+ individuals (no renewal required if they remain within the 10-year cycle).
4Task Force on Federal Identification Cards: establishes a multi-agency body (SSA, Election Assistance Commission, Domestic Policy Council, USPS, CFPB, HUD, Education, Labor, Veterans Affairs, plus others as appropriate) to determine production requirements, protect privacy, produce a report within 1 year, and develop voluntary best practices for helping vulnerable populations obtain the ID; the Task Force terminates when the ID is made available.
5USPS-based application and public outreach: within 2 years, USPS will develop a process to accept first-time and renewal applications, offering in-person photography at post offices, online applications, mail applications at no cost, and ID delivery by mail or post office pickup; a public education campaign will precede availability, and best-practice guidance for nonprofits serving vulnerable groups will be developed.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Individuals in the United States who need or will need an acceptable form of identification, with a focus on people who currently lack easy access to state-issued IDs (including vulnerable populations who have historically been disproportionately affected by lack of access to identification).Secondary group/area affected: Federal and postal systems (SSA, USPS, participating federal agencies), as well as nonprofit organizations and service providers that assist vulnerable populations in obtaining identification.Additional impacts: Potential privacy and data-protection considerations due to handling of personal information; cost and administrative implications for SSA and USPS; potential interactions with existing state IDs and federal identification requirements; potential impact on access to services and activities that require ID, including voting, travel, and benefits, depending on how broadly the new ID is accepted in practice.

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