HON. RON PAUL
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Wednesday, July 15, 1998
1998 Ron Paul 76:1
Mr. PAUL.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce
the Freedom and Privacy Restoration
Act, which repeals those sections of the Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility
Act of 1996 authorizing the establishment
of federal standards for birth certificates
and drivers’ licenses. This obscure provision,
which was part of a major piece of legislation
passed at the end of the 104th Congress, represents
a major power grab by the federal
government and a threat to the liberties of
every American, for it would transform state
drivers’ licenses into national ID cards.
1998 Ron Paul 76:2
If this scheme is not stopped, no American
will be able to get a job; open a bank account;
apply for Social Security or Medicare; exercise
their Second Amendment rights; or even take
an airplane flight unless they can produce a
state drivers’ license, or its equivalent, that
conforms to federal specifications. Under the
1996 Kennedy-Kassebaum health care reform
law, Americans may even be forced to present
a federally-approved drivers’ license before
consulting their physicians for medical treatment!
1998 Ron Paul 76:3
Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government has
no constitutional authority to require Americans
to present any form of identification before
engaging in any private transaction such
as opening a bank account, seeing a doctor,
or seeking employment.
1998 Ron Paul 76:4
The establishment of a national standard for
drivers’ licenses and birth certificates makes a
mockery of the 10th amendment and the principles
of federalism. While no state is forced
to conform their birth certificates or drivers’ licenses
to federal standards, it is unlikely they
will not comply when failure to conform to federal
specifications means none of that state’s
residents may get a job, receive Social Security,
or even leave the state by plane? Thus,
rather than imposing a direct mandate on the
states, the federal government is blackmailing
states into complying with federal dictates.
1998 Ron Paul 76:5
Of course, the most important reason to
support the Freedom and Privacy Restoration
Act is because any uniform, national system of
identification would allow the federal government
to inappropriately monitor the movements
and transactions of every citizen. History
shows that when government gains the
power to monitor the actions of the people, it
eventually uses that power to impose totalitarian
controls on the populace.
1998 Ron Paul 76:6
I ask my colleagues what would the founders
of this country say if they knew the limited
federal government they bequeathed to America
would soon have the power to demand
that all Americans obtain a federally-approved
ID?
1998 Ron Paul 76:7
If the disapproval of the Founders is not sufficient
to cause my colleagues to support this
legislation, then perhaps they should consider
the reaction of the American people when they
discover that they must produce a federally-approved
ID in order to get a job or open a
bank account. Already many offices are being
flooded with complaints about the movement
toward a national ID card. If this scheme is not
halted, Congress and the entire political establishment
could drown in the backlash from the
American people.
1998 Ron Paul 76:8
National ID cards are a trademark of totalitarianism
and are thus incompatible with a
free society. In order to preserve some semblance
of American liberty and republican government
I am proud to introduce the Freedom
and Privacy Restoration Act. I thank Congressman
BARR for joining me in cosponsoring
this legislation. I urge my colleagues to stand
up for the rights of American people by cosponsoring
the Freedom and Privacy Restoration
Act.
Notes:
1998 Ron Paul Chapter 76
This statement, inserted in the Extensions of Remarks, is on the same theme as a speech
Ron Paul delivered on the House floor
in 1998 Ron Paul Chapter 75.
1998 Ron Paul 76:6 federally-approved probably should not be hyphenated: federally approved.
1998 Ron Paul 76:8 I thank Congressman BARR Here, Ron Paul thanks The Honorable Bob Barr of Georgia.
