Policy Overview

Secure ID Coalition members work with federal and state policy makers to promote the understanding of secure identification solutions and systems. Providing information and a policy framework allows policy makers to provide answers about concerns related to ID credentials and offer solutions that enhance security and privacy protection. Technology can be used effectively to address the privacy concerns voiced by citizens today.

Policy Areas

Health IT
As outlined in the ARRA, every American will have an Electronic Medical Record by 2014. Incorporating technology into the health care system will improve physician efficiency, allow patients to better manage diseases, and enable fundamental system cost reductions. However with this transition comes a greater risk of digitized medical records being stolen, manipulated or hacked potentially leading to medical identity theft or misdiagnosis and personal harm. Smart Cards enable individuals to protect their own electronic medical record and personal information and balance privacy protections with the portability and ease of access for authorized medical personnel.

Cybersecurity
In the world of instant communication and virtual communities, cybersecurity plays a vital role in keeping our networks and economic infrastructure safe. Cyber networks are strengthened by digital security solutions, the most fundamental of which is identity management. Identity management ensures those accessing the network are authorized and have been authenticated.

Immigration Reform
Immigration reform is a critical issue for the country and the economy. The identification and authentication of workers, using digital security solutions such biometrics and smart cards, will enable lasting meaningful reform as we will be able to definitively know an individual is who they claim to be and eligible to work. Thus removing incentives for illegal immigration, while not punishing legal, hardworking immigrants and American.

Social Security Cards
The social security card is vital to prove one’s identity, yet the card technology has not been upgraded from the basic design developed in 1936. The current paper card with the name and social security number typed on the front is susceptible to fraud, forgery and counterfeiting. Using electronic security technology, such as smart cards, the antiquated social security card can be redesigned to include basic security features appropriate for managing identity in the 21st Century.

First Responder Credentials
First responders need to be able to access the perimeter of any incident quickly and securely. Knowing who is authorized inside the perimeter is equally important to prevent nefarious acts and non-certified on-lookers from creating a larger problem. Smart cards can streamline the authentication process and ensure all emergency personnel are accounted for.

Finacial Payments
In the United States, purchasing items with debit or credit cards drive up the cost of goods. When paying with ‘plastic,’ the issuing bank or card company charges a significant interchange fee to the merchant, who in turn passes it along to the consumer. The majority of the world has avoided this condition, by implimenting more secure card payment systems, resulting in lower levels of fraud and lower interchange fees. This situation hurts Americans domestically, in the form of higher prices of goods for consumers and lower profits for merchants. Internationally the United States is harmed when US- issued, magnetic strip credit and debit cards are not accepted due to the their antiquated technology; additionally, as the rest of the world transitions to more secure payment methods, more fraud shifts to the United States.