I 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5178
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a pilot program 
to improve the security of State drivers’ licenses and identification cards, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 29, 2004
Mr. MORAN of Virginia introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Transportation to carry out a 
pilot program to improve the security of State drivers’ 
licenses and identification cards, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Driver’s License Im-
provement and Security Act of 2004’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following:
(1) The terrorist attacks of September 11, 
2001, illuminated many flaws in the Nation’s domes-
tic security, especially in its identification system. 
(2) Drivers’ licenses and identification cards 
issued by States have become the favored form of 
identity verification in the United States and are 
used by government agencies and private entities 
alike. 
(3) Inconsistent requirements between the 
States for initial identity verification and insufficient 
verification of identity documents have made the 
identification systems of States a prime target for 
fraud and identity theft. 
(4) Different designs on drivers’ licenses and 
identification cards issued by States have created a 
market, including sales on the Internet, for fake 
cards that look real to those who are unfamiliar with 
the official designs. 
(5) The use of new technologies will improve 
the security of State identification systems. 
(6) Identification card technologies that accom-
modate other government and private applications 
create a Federal benefit that justifies Federal assist-
ance.
(7) Improving the security of drivers’ licenses 
and identification cards issued by the States will 
eliminate multiple licensing of individuals who com-
mit fraud, impede the purchase of alcohol and to-
bacco products by underage individuals, and severely 
reduce identity theft. 
(8) The report of the Markle Foundation Task 
Force on National Security in the Information Age, 
published in December 2003, recommended that the 
Federal Government develop standards for State 
drivers’ licenses and identification cards and exam-
ine the application of smart card and biometric in-
formation technologies to such drivers’ licenses and 
identification cards. 
(9) The Final Report of the National Commis-
sion on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States 
(also known as the ‘‘9/11 Commission’’) described 
the potential for biometric identifiers in reducing 
identity fraud and specifically recommended that the 
Federal Government set standards for the issuance 
of drivers’ licenses. 
SEC. 3. STATE DRIVER’S LICENSE AND IDENTIFICATION 
CARD PILOT PROGRAMS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi-
nitions apply:
(1) DRIVER’S LICENSE.—The term ‘‘driver’s li-
cense’’ means a license issued by the motor vehicle 
agency of a State to an individual that authorizes 
the individual to operate a motor vehicle on high-
ways. 
(2) IDENTIFICATION CARD.—The term ‘‘identi-
fication card’’ means an identification card issued by 
the motor vehicle agency of a State to an individual. 
(3) PARTICIPATING STATE.—The term ‘‘partici-
pating State’’ means a State that is participating in 
the pilot program established under this section. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Transportation. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF VOLUNTARY PILOT PRO-
GRAM.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out a pilot program to assist States in developing 
and implementing a driver’s license and identifica-
tion card program that meets the requirements of 
this section. 
(2) APPLICATIONS.—In order to be eligible to 
participate in the pilot program, a State shall sub-
mit to the Secretary an application in such form and 
containing such information as the Secretary may 
require.