Last month, the U.S. Senate in 100-0 vote approved the federal Real ID Act, which aims at standardizing and strengthening the security of state driver’s licenses. Previously, the U.S. House had voted approval. The Act, expected to be signed into law by President George Bush, may have a ripple effect on higher level security built into other types of identification cards and badges in the private sector.
In an unrelated move, vendors providing pet supplies started a push for a universal scanning device to read chips implanted in dogs, cats and other animals. Not surprisingly, the Real ID Act has garnered the most critical response.