HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1009
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION, Urging the federal government to honor tribal identification
cards.
WHEREAS, tribal nations bear the same responsibilities as other jurisdictions for identifying and
protecting tribal citizens, as well as preparing for and responding to natural disasters, terrorism, and
other homeland security related events; and
WHEREAS, the United States government has the responsibility to protect tribal sovereignty and
to fulfill its trust obligations to Native American tribes and people; and
WHEREAS, the federal REAL ID Act mandates federal standards for state driver licenses and
identification cards and specifies the documents that states must require to issue driver licenses, as
well as placing uniform information on every driver license in a standard format. The act also
prohibits federal agencies and federally-regulated commercial aircraft from accepting a driver license
or identification card issued by a state that has not fully complied with the act; and
WHEREAS, as a result of several post-9/11 laws, such as the REAL ID Act, the Western
Hemisphere Travel Initiative, and the Help America Vote Act, identification cards have been
required for a number of purposes, including obtaining Medicare benefits, voting, flying
domestically, obtaining a driver license, and entering federal facilities; and
WHEREAS, federal requirements relating to these laws have required the use of increasing levels
of technology and security measures in producing identification cards at the state level and the use
of additional documentation necessary to verify identity; and
WHEREAS, most Native American tribes issue tribal identification cards to their members.
Many tribal citizens do not have state or federal ID but have tribal identification; and
WHEREAS, the State of South Dakota currently allows the use of tribal identification cards for
a number of purposes, including voting, banking transactions, cashing checks, and tobacco
purchases; and
WHEREAS, many tribes are not currently able to issue identification cards that meet federal
requirements and will need federal assistance in acquiring the equipment and technology necessary
to comply with federal requirements relating to identification documents:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the Eighty-seventh Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that the South
Dakota Legislature calls upon Congress and all states to recognize valid tribal government
identification cards for all official purposes for which identification cards are required, including
voting and obtaining driver licenses; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Legislature requests the United States Congress and the
Department of Homeland Security, as part of their federal trust responsibility, to provide the
necessary technical assistance and resources for development and issuance of tribal identification
cards that meet appropriate technological and security standards.
Adopted by the House of Representatives,
February 22, 2012
Concurred in by the Senate,
February 24, 2012
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Val Rausch
Speaker of the House
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Karen Gerdes
Chief Clerk of the House
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Matt Michels
President of the Senate
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Fee Jacobsen
Secretary of the Senate
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