SAVE America Through REAL ID Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9141
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-04: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-15T17:48:58Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation This bill establishes a federal grant program administered by the Secretary of Homeland Security. Its goal is to help States issue REAL ID-compliant identification cards at no cost to low-income individuals, thereby removing financial barriers to obtaining documents that meet Federal standards for official purposes, including those referenced in the context of elections.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Creates a grant program allowing States to use funds for waiving fees, covering administrative costs, conducting public awareness efforts, providing mobile services in underserved areas, and assisting with required documentation.
- Defines "low-income individual" as someone with household income at or below 200 percent of the Federal poverty level or participating in a means-tested public assistance program.
- Requires States to submit applications detailing identification and verification methods, fee-elimination plans, outreach strategies, and compliance with privacy and security laws.
- Allocates funds based on the population of low-income individuals and demonstrated need, with a minimum allocation guaranteed to each participating State.
- Mandates annual State reports on cards issued, demographics, outreach, and expenditures, plus a Federal summary report to Congress and audits of funds.
- Authorizes $50,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and grants the Secretary rulemaking authority.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced The legislation adds a new grant program under the Department of Homeland Security to support State implementation of REAL ID requirements. It does not amend or repeal prior statutes but provides dedicated funding to address cost barriers for low-income applicants, extending Federal assistance beyond the original REAL ID framework established in 2005.
Potential Impacts on Government Agencies, Citizens, or International Relations
- Government agencies: Increases administrative responsibilities for the Department of Homeland Security in grant oversight, allocation, and reporting; States gain resources to offset issuance costs but must meet application and accountability requirements.
- Citizens: Expands access to compliant identification for eligible low-income individuals without direct fees, potentially improving their ability to engage in activities requiring such documents.
- International relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State governments and motor vehicle agencies responsible for issuing identification.
- Low-income individuals seeking compliant identification.
- The Department of Homeland Security as the administering agency.
- Congress, through oversight of appropriations and annual reports.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill operates within existing Federal authority over identification standards and grant-making, with explicit requirements for privacy and security law compliance. It introduces no apparent constitutional conflicts but ties Federal funding to State participation in REAL ID processes. Politically, the measure links identification access to broader eligibility standards, including those associated with elections, while maintaining nonpartisan requirements for outreach activities.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Fedorchak, Julie [R-ND-At Large]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-04: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2026-06-04: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-04: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- SAVE America Through REAL ID Act — issued 2026-06-04 — PDF (5 pages)