In a letter to Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, Senator Collins wrote, "As one of the authors of the provision requiring consultation with State elected officials and State offices that issue these forms of identification, I believe that State officials have invaluable insights to offer in this standard-setting process. This State-Federal partnership presents a meaningful opportunity to establish minimum standards that will, ultimately, aid in our efforts to strengthen our borders and protect our nation against the threat of terrorism. I believe that Maine's Secretary of State would make a particularly valuable contribution to this process."
Maine's Secretary of State oversees the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. This Bureau, established in 1905, is responsible for qualifying and licensing drivers, as well as maintaining records of driver history, vehicle ownership, and vehicle registration.
"With 100 years of experience in this area, Maine's officials are eminently qualified to participate in this important undertaking," wrote Senator Collins. "Furthermore, in light of its size and its location on the northern border, Maine is ideally situated to represent the interests of both less populous states and other border states, with whom the State shares an interest in securing the nation's borders while also allowing the free flow of legitimate tourism, trade, and other services that are so vital to our border communities. Secure identification documents are a necessary part of maintaining that important balance."
The Collins-Lieberman bill requires standards that would make it more difficult to obtain a valid driver's license with bogus documents or to create a fake license, which could then be presented for identification at a border crossing or to board an airline flight.