REAL ID’s are “papers please” Tell the government NO!

Act before midnight October 15th!

Published: Oct 11, 2024

Our Stand: At-A-Glance

  • States have the right to make rules for identification and governance of their population.
  • U.S. DHS is pushing to enforce “REAL ID,” basically a national ID, as quickly as it can.
  • The REAL ID program is run by the Department of Homeland Security and is a product of the surveillance state that grew out of 9/11.
  • The REAL ID has the potential to eventually be used as a vaccine passport and to suffocate many liberties.
  • Americans have been promised time and time again that we would not be subject to a national ID.
  • Does your license have a star on it? If so, you are part of the federal REAL ID program.
  • Even though states have accepted REAL ID in their laws, only 56% of licenses and IDs in the country are REAL ID compliant.
  • In light of this lack of implementation, the compliance deadline has been pushed ahead for years, but now DHS wants it done.
  • The most recent REAL ID compliance deadline is May 7, 2025.
  • Instead of pushing out the deadline again, DHS wants to stick with it but provide a 2-year grace period for federal agencies to require the star on your card.
  • DHS estimates 96% of federal agencies will not use their grace period.
  • The REAL ID is totally unnecessary; Americans can use a passport at federal facilities and for air travel… so what is it really for?
  • There is a comment period open until midnight, Tuesday, October 15, 2024, for Americans to tell the U.S. government what we think of a REAL ID compliance deadline by May 7, 2025. Click the box on the right to make your voice a part of the public record of resistance to tyranny.

 

The Federal register will delete comments that copy paste. Therefore, we can’t give you a script. Use the talking points below as inspiration for your comment.

  1. Americans do not want a national ID card, and more than one president has assured us it would not be implemented. A national identification card has the potential for serious misuse and abuse by an overreaching government. Our states are the wall between us and a federal government out of control, but dangerously states have opened a gate for tyranny to walk through by adopting REAL ID.
  2. There are 5 states that do not offer an opt-out of REAL ID. Urge DHS to add that as a rule. DHS notes in its proposed rule, “In states that offer noncompliant cards, a substantial number of individuals choose to obtain a noncompliant card,” showing that Americans want this option! When an agency notices a lot of people taking action, it means something.
  3. The fact that this rulemaking is proposed means DHS was facing the idea of pushing the deadline out again. The reason it keeps getting pushed out is because of noncompliance. Even though states adopted REAL ID rules, states are not prioritizing implementing it, and Americans are opting out at “substantial” rates! Urge DHS to push the deadline out again, giving Americans time to wake up to this back-door national ID agenda, and get states to repeal the law and take back their right to police and govern their own citizens. DHS does not want to extend the deadline again, because they want to force compliance. However, we can argue it is reasonable, responsible, and right to extend the deadline when states still don’t have infrastructure for giving the card out, when almost half the country would be facing a card-carrying deadline they’re not ready for when agencies take a hard line. Further, phased compliance will cost taxpayers additional money as each agency decides how to implement the grace period, costing time paid to employees to dream it up and implement it as well as potentially new computing and database resources. Agencies could incur costs if they need to interact with someone who does not have a REAL ID by necessitating the agency to meet them offsite, as pointed out by DHS in the proposal.
  4. Another reason to urge DHS to extend the deadline again is because this notice does not take into account what would happen if another pandemic is declared, or there is some other emergency that draws state resources out and away from enforcing the federal plan. The “consequences” of not having a REAL ID would remain, regardless of whether a person could comply if they wanted to.
  5. This proposed rule would give federal agencies the option to take a hard line on enforcing REAL ID on May 7, 2024, but gives no grace period to Americans subject to enforcement. DHS anticipates 96% of federal agencies will not use a phased grace period, based on conversations with the 434 federal agencies themselves. Does it make sense to make a law based on the needs of 4% of federal agencies? The rule points out that agencies may have a wave of applications for REAL ID as the deadline looms, leading to delays in distribution. What happens to the people who want a REAL ID that’s delayed, if an agency takes a hard line on enforcing? There should be a grace period for Americans before there is grace for an agency that exists only because we let it.
  6. DHS specifically wants comments on the grace period length. The agency considered up to 5 years. A longer grace period is not the ideal or truly desired option–it’s damage control that would give Americans more time to fight REAL ID. In fact, the notice states, “DHS did not select three, four, or five years because DHS believes a time period longer than 2 years would further delay the security benefits of REAL ID and is unlikely to provide the same incentive for individuals to obtain a compliant [driver’s license or identification].” Whose security are they talking about? Americans, or the federal government? DHS sees the more time we have, the more time we can fight.

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OUR STAND: The Full Story

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security wants to usher in a national ID as quickly as it can. Comments are open in the Federal Register until midnight October 15, 2024, for you to tell them what you think of that.

Many Americans have heard of the REAL ID, but how many know what it is? Ready or not, a deadline is approaching that almost half of Americans are unprepared for, when the federal government wants to “enforce” with “consequences” a requirement that all Americans have a star on their license or ID, showing their compliance with federal plans.

Does your driver’s license or state ID have a star on it? If so, you are marked as “REAL ID” compliant. But what does that mean? It means a whole lot more than getting on an airplane or visiting a federal building, which is what we were told it was all about.

A notice in the Federal Register gives Americans the opportunity to weigh in on that deadline, which is May 7, 2025.

Background

In 2005, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the federal government seized the opportunity to pass sweeping laws that laid the groundwork for a surveillance state, which they called “homeland security.” Many Americans have no idea the groundwork for vaccination passports (and a national ID) has already been laid. The U.S. REAL ID Act was signed into law in 2005, attempting to establish federal standards for state-issued licenses and identifications. The trick was, though, states had to adopt it.

Make no mistake about it, the federal government is using the states to strong-arm you into accepting a federal takeover of the state government’s role, by tricking the states into creating a national identification. And they’re making no secret that they are bullying people into compliance, saying Americans should “anticipate consequences” if they don’t get a star on their license or identification showing they complied with federal requirements for their state-issued photo ID.

Right now, it is claimed REAL ID is required for air travel or to enter federal buildings. How many people believe it will stay that limited? The government itself acknowledges it will grow. Once the infrastructure for this national identification is in place, willingly if blindly adopted by all the states, it will require almost no effort to expand the requirements for REAL ID to include other “minimum” information (maybe vaccination status?), and to require more data to be issued a card, and for that card to be required for access to more and more public spaces and services. The federal government fully intends to expand its use, which we know because the law states it can be used for “any other purposes that the Secretary of Homeland Security shall determine.”

What has the Department of Homeland Security seen as a threat to national security over the years? Free speech is at the top of their list.

And another:

People’s ideas that the government went too far with public health mandates are also deemed a threat to national security.

You can see how this can go very wrong, very quickly. (Read more on vaccine passports and digital identities here.)

The driver’s license or the photo identification card are state-issued documents. In the name of the War on Terror, the REAL ID Act created additional federal requirements to be laid on top of these state verifications, but only if the states adopted the federal law. Even though the law was passed in 2005 — almost 20 years ago — it hasn’t fully taken effect yet. This is because there was massive resistance to what many Americans rightfully saw as a national ID card that obliterated privacy and other constitutionally protected rights.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) summed it up well in a white paper called “Identity Crisis: What Digital Driver’s Licenses Could Mean for Privacy, Equity, and Freedom:”

“After 9/11, the highly questionable notion took hold that terrorist attacks could be thwarted by tightening up the standards for issuance of IDs. At the same time, conservative antipathy toward immigrants led many people who were normally skeptical of government mandates and the creeping bureaucratic regimentation of American life to embrace the expansion of identity systems. The post-9/11 effort to make driver’s licenses more secure was bungled by the congressional leadership of the time, who rammed through the poorly designed Real ID Act of 2005. That bill, which was passed with no hearings, debate, or testimony from state department of motor vehicles (DMV) officials or other experts and was attached at the last minute to must-pass emergency legislation, imposed a cumbersome and unnecessary system of identity and citizenship proofing on state DMVs.”

The ACLU went on to emphasize that the state driver licensing system was set up for a limited purpose: “to certify who is competent to drive a car on the public roads.” The federal REAL ID act exploited that existing system in the states to claim it could also be used to stop terrorist attacks. Nothing in the Real ID Act limits any additional expansions of federal requirements or power, giving the Department of Homeland security a blank check with your face on it. “The legislation is vague enough to leave the door open for the United States government to first require you to have a Real ID, and then decide you need a host of vaccinations to obtain or retain it.”[ix]

States like Maine and Pennsylvania enacted laws prohibiting the REAL ID being tied to their state identification system, citing concerns about Americans’ privacy.[x] Maine’s Attorney General, Matthew Dunlap, said in 2014, “You may as well just repeal the Fourth Amendment.” Unfortunately, fast forward five years and a new administration put up the white flag, with Governor Paul LePage signing a bill to comply with the federal government’s wishes.[xi] It took 17 years, but the federal government wore down and convinced every state legislature to comply with the federal law.[xii] Senator Bill Diamond from Maine painted the picture: “We can get into these philosophical debates, but people have to get on airplanes.”[xiii] In other words, no matter how many real concerns there are about privacy, the Fourth Amendment, and other constitutional rights, paradoxically, the fundamental right to travel is being destroyed by the necessity and lure of travel itself.

The newest implementation date is May 7, 2025, when Americans will be told it is required for their state identification to be “REAL ID compliant” for air travel and access to federal facilities.

The federal government only has the powers we give it. Right now, it is trying to claim we are giving it the power to implement a national identification, called REAL ID, through a process most Americans are not involved with–namely, creating law through posting in the Federal Register.

Scott Kiley

Associate Director of Local Advocacy

Scott Kiley has been married to Jill Kiley for 37 years. Together they have 3 children, 3 grandchildren and reside in Florida. He is an entrepreneur having founded several businesses, one that remains today.

In battling the tyranny that unfolded during the Covid pandemic, Scott uses his organizational and entrepreneurial skills to focus on health care freedom. Scott and his wife Jill organize health freedom advocates in an effort to deliver meaningful change at a local level. Doctors, attorneys, nurses and passionate health freedom warriors make up the team. The advocates focus on their local county commissioners, city council members, school board members, sheriff and police. The advocacy work is always collaborative, respectful and educational while bring real change that enhances health care freedom. Team effort success has come in the form of local legislation through resolutions and ordinances.

Scott and his wife Jill share a vision of uniting every county within their state of Florida and using this unity to bring change in Tallahassee.

Jill Kiley

Associate Director of Local Advocacy

Jill earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Southern Illinois University and a master’s in Clinical Social Work from the University of Illinois-Chicago. As a Youth and family therapist, mother of three, and grandmother, Jill has always stayed abreast of health issues affecting our society’s physical and mental well-being.

During the COVID lockdowns, she realized that the gaslighting of the public and the straying from evidence-based medical advice from our medical authorities needed to be questioned. The flawed science around the pretrials of the COVID-19 vaccines was alarming!  Jill and her husband, Scott, decided they needed to stand up and fight back locally against the deceptive narrative invoked against our society and continue advocating for our God-given rights

Jill and her husband, Scott, have become the local conduits of truth in a society of censorship. They have coordinated with activists in their community to educate local officials, resulting in impactful changes to local legislation to protect residents and their freedoms. “Bringing Truth to Light gracefully, opens doors to dialog and spurs curiosity for truth.”

Jill Hines

Directory of Advocacy
A former banker turned homeschool mom, Jill Hines began researching alternatives to conventional medicine in 2010 and what she discovered changed the trajectory of her life. She corrected a worrisome health issue, and embraced a natural approach to wellness. Advocating for informed consent and parental rights became a full-time mission when she joined the board of the Georgia Coalition for Vaccine Choice and later became the co-director of Health Freedom Louisiana. Due to her advocacy efforts during the COVID crisis, Jill was one of 25 Louisianans selected by Central City News as “a hero of the constitutional crisis.” She was also presented the Impact Award for Outstanding Public Service from the government watchdog organization Citizens for a New Louisiana. Jill now represents hundreds of millions of Americans who experienced censorship due to the Biden administration's efforts to suppress disfavored speech as a plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit Missouri v. Biden. Jill holds a marketing degree from Louisiana Tech University and now passionately “sells” health freedom full-time. Serving as Stand for Health Freedom’s advocacy director provides an incredible opportunity to advance the growing movement to preserve the sacred right to refuse unwanted medical interventions for ourselves and our children without fear of retribution.
“We have lived through a terrifying societal, psychological, and medical experiment which afforded us a knowledge that our forefathers tried to impart and we can no longer ignore: Our freedom is tenuous. For our children’s sake, the time is now to take a stand for health freedom.”

Chrissy Scott

Executive Assistant and Social Media Manager

A labor and delivery nurse with a lifelong passion for maternal and fetal health, Chrissy Scott left her job of 19 years after learning the truth about the harms caused by the medical system. In 2009, she was mandated by her employer to receive the H1N1 vaccine during her first trimester of pregnancy with her second child. She was assured that the vaccine was “safe and effective” for pregnant women, but her son was born with a kidney defect that could have been fatal. She didn’t connect the dots to vaccine injury until several years later when the declining health of her oldest son drove her to seek answers outside of allopathic medicine.

This personal journey ignited in her a new passion for truth and transparency in health care. As SHF’s Executive Assistant, Chrissy facilitates communication and local advocacy initiatives alongside Leah Wilson for their home state of Indiana. She also manages and creates graphics for SHF’s social media accounts and the website’s swag shop.

Chrissy earned her nursing degree from Anderson University and served her entire career at her local hospital. While she’s no longer a floor nurse, her five very active boys frequently test her nursing skills! She homeschools her children and has been co-owner of a successful home décor sign business with her sister.

“Parents, being the experts on their own children, are best suited to make decisions for the well-being of their family. To do this properly, they must be given full and accurate information and be free from force or coercion.”

Ellen Chappelle

Writer/Editor

Ellen Chappelle serves as SHF’s resident wordsmith. A seasoned writer and editor, she’s enthusiastic about ensuring that our content is clear, concise, and inspiring.

Ellen is most energized by working on projects that transform lives. A truth seeker as well as a journalist, she’s disturbed by the lack of accuracy in today’s media and determined to help share fact rather than fiction. And having found greater healing with alternative approaches, she’s also passionate about preserving our freedom to make informed health choices.

Past projects include serving as regional editor of a dog magazine, color and trend specialist for a small cosmetics company, arts columnist, newspaper reporter, ghostwriter, and creator of website content for artists and small businesses.

With a degree in journalism and theatre, Ellen is also a performer. She enjoyed singing and dancing on a cruise ship and traveling with a national musical theatre tour, as well as recording industrial videos, television commercials, and radio voiceovers. She also creates handcrafted jewelry in wire, chain maille, and fused glass.

“Despite what some would have us believe, the fact remains that this nation was founded on biblical principles by people who wanted freedom to worship God and live their lives without government involvement. It’s never been more critical to fight for those rights.”

LEAH WILSON

Executive Director and Co-founder

An attorney with a background in complex litigation and advocacy, Leah Wilson is passionate about children’s health and has researched and worked on child welfare issues for more than a decade.

The overmedication of children in foster care as a form of behavior management is what compelled Leah to become an advocate and foster parent. During her time as a court-appointed special advocate for abused and neglected children, Leah witnessed the rampant use of psychiatric drugs among foster kids. She also discovered that, in addition to many extensive requirements, the state had a policy that all foster children and foster families be fully vaccinated, without exception. Through her involvement in law, health and the foster care system, it became abundantly clear to Leah that the single most important issue affecting child welfare in the United States is the practice of one-size-fits-all medicine via medical mandates. This motivated Leah to expand her advocacy beyond foster care to all children nationwide and to start Stand for Health Freedom (SHF) in 2019.

A graduate of the Saint Louis University School of Law, Leah holds dual bachelor degrees in political science and Spanish from Indiana University. In addition to her advocacy work with SHF, Leah is the owner and former operations director of MaxLiving Indy, one of the largest natural health centers in the Midwest. She is also an educator on holistic health as well as a sought-after speaker on issues ranging from religious rights to greening your home.

“Parental rights and religious freedom are God-given natural rights that cannot arbitrarily be taken away by government authorities. Parents are the single most important factor in a child’s success; I stand in full support of this sacred relationship.”

Sayer JI

Director and Co-founder

Sayer Ji is a widely recognized researcher, author, lecturer, activist, and educator on natural health modalities. Among his many roles, he is an advisor to Stand for Health Freedom, a reviewer and editor of the International Journal of Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine, an advisory board member of the National Health Federation, a steering committee member of the Global GMO Free Coalition, and the co-founder and CEO of Systome Biomed Inc., a revolutionary scientific validation framework.

Most notably, Sayer is the founder of Greenmedinfo.com, the world’s most widely referenced, evidence-based natural health resource of its kind. He founded the platform in 2008 to provide an open access, evidence-based resource supporting natural and integrative modalities. Today, Greenmedinfo.com has more than a million visits per month, serving as a trusted resource on myriad health and wellness topics to physicians, healthcare practitioners, clinicians, researchers and consumers worldwide.

Sayer attended Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, where he studied under the notable American philosopher Dr. Bruce W. Wilshire. He received a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy in 1995, with a focus on the philosophy of science. His new book, Regenerate: Unlocking Your Body’s Radical Resilience through the New Biology, was released in March 2020 and is an Amazon bestseller.

“I truly believe that education will be our greatest shield against accelerating the erosion of civil liberties, including the right to bodily sovereignty, as well as the greatest catalyst for positive change on this planet moving forward.”

Bailey Kuykendoll

Associate Director

Designer and visual marketer Bailey Kuykendoll began advocating for health and religious freedom and parental rights in 2014 after learning she was pregnant. A self-described skeptic, she’s not afraid to ask questions and do copious amounts of research to reach her own conclusions.

She’s also not afraid of hard work. As SHF’s Associate Director, Bailey truly keeps the organizational boat afloat. Working closely with our State Directors in each state, she ensures that SHF has calls-to-action for health-freedom bills and petitions on our website and across social media, spreading the word to encourage people to contact their legislators. She builds campaigns, graphics, website pages, and relationships.

Bailey earned a design degree from Harrington Institute of Design in 2008. She then served as a production assistant on several shows for HGTV, followed by working behind the scenes on the X Factor, small indie films, music videos, and documentaries. Bailey joined Health Freedom Florida after moving to the East Coast, becoming co-president of the grassroots organization in 2019. While at Health Freedom Florida, she successfully filed a state bill designed to stop discrimination based on your health status. She joined SHF in the fall of 2020.

“God placed a calling on my heart back in 2008 to be a part of something bigger for Him. Twelve years later, the opportunity came knocking to help others lean into their natural-born rights and take a stand for themselves and their families. I knew this is where I was called to be, and I have never looked back.”

Valerie Borek

POLICY ANALYST

Valerie Borek is a passionate advocate for health rights and family privacy. A mother of two with degrees in law and biochemistry, she is perfectly positioned to lead SHF advocates through complex health-rights policy. Her work is guided by a love for American values, uncovering truth, and a passion for empowering others. Valerie has served as SHF’s policy analyst since 2021.

Valerie’s understanding of the value of freedom to make one’s own health care choices is not just academic. Health freedom has kept her boys alive and thriving. Her choice to have home births jump-started her advocacy for health privacy. Her eldest son survived a rare and deadly cancer because her family was able to navigate medical care while holding onto values that were sometimes at odds with recommendations.

Before joining SHF, Valerie specialized in health and parenting rights at her boutique law firm, especially surrounding birth and vaccine rights. She advocated for informed consent in health care and transparent food labeling in her state. She helped found the Birth Rights Bar Association and was honored to present their argument to the Delaware Supreme Court that midwifery is not the practice of medicine, in support of a trailblazing midwife.

“Health is the foundation of how we show up in this world to love, serve, and create. Americans are blessed to live in a country that gets stronger the more we protect fundamental rights, like informed consent and privacy, so individuals and families can thrive.”

Mary Katherine LaCroix

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND NONPROFIT ADMINISTRATION

Mary Katherine LaCroix became involved with SHF as a volunteer in 2019 when the religious exemption for childhood vaccines was at risk in her home state of New Jersey. She believes strongly that parents have the responsibility for their children’s health, education, and faith formation and that only they have the right to make medical decisions and manage their care.

She has worked in fundraising for more than 25 years at various educational, cultural, human services, and political organizations. A graduate of the University of Scranton, she holds a degree in History and English Literature.

Mary Katherine is thrilled to have this opportunity to work with and help grow SHF, believing that together we can achieve even greater impact in protecting our rights and caring for our loved ones. She enjoys spending time with her husband, two children and large extended family, as well as volunteering to support the special needs community.

“Parents are taught that they must trust the experts. That’s what we did, until we learned that the experts can be wrong and don’t always know what is best for your child. Parents should instead feel empowered by their natural, God-given ability to advocate and care for their children. SHF is here to give them the tools to do just that.”

Sheila Ealey

Political Analyst

Dr. Sheila Lewis Ealey is the founder and former director of the Creative Learning Center of Louisiana, a therapeutic day school for children who are on the autism spectrum or struggling with other nonverbal intellectual disabilities. The wife of a former U.S. Coast Guard Officer, she is also the mother of four children. Her son was diagnosed with severe autism spectrum disorder at 18 months. He is now a young man and considered moderate and emerging.

Sheila and her twins were featured in the documentary “Vaxxed.” She has traveled extensively, advocating for medical freedom. She continues to educate disenfranchised parents about their fundamental rights to religious and philosophical exemptions, their ability to live sustainably on a limited budget, and the importance of nutrition and biomedical interventions for optimum health with autism. She also writes individual homeschool curriculums for parents of children with autism or intellectual disorders. Sheila is a trustee for the Autism Trust, USA, and on the board of directors of Children’s Health Defense.

Over the past 20 years, she has educated herself to use natural healing modalities for the body and brain. Her formal education includes degrees in communication, special education curriculum, and a doctorate in Educational Leadership in Special Education. Sheila serves as an assistant content advisor and political analyst for SHF.

“It is not the Constitution’s job to protect our liberties, as it is not a philosophical document but a legal one. Its purpose is to limit the powers and authority of our federal government in hopes of preventing an intrusion upon our unalienable rights. We are obliged to maintain our government within its limits.”

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