JEFFERSON CITY, MO: For Missourians wanting to fly and those wishing to visit military bases and federal facilities in 2018, it’s important to know that Missouri continues to await word from the Department of Homeland Security for an extension of the existing grace period that lasts until January 22. During the 2017 legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly approved legislation to allow residents to obtain a photo ID that is compliant with the federal REAL ID Act. Because the current version of the Missouri driver’s license is not compliant, DHS announced in January of 2016 that Missourians would not be able to enter federal facilities and would not fly domestically beginning in 2018. With the legislation approved this year, the federal government granted an extension to allow Missourians to continue to use their existing IDs for these purposes.
Now, state officials are hopeful the federal government will allow Missourians to continue utilizing their existing IDs for travel until the new compliant IDs are readily available. However, DHS has yet to make an announcement regarding a possible extension, and Missouri may not receive word from the department until the end of the month. For now, Missourians should know their existing driver licenses will work to fly and to visit military bases and federal facilities until January 22, 2018. The hope is that DHS will extend that deadline until March 2019 so that Missourians will continue to be able to travel without issue until they are able to obtain the new REAL ID-compliant driver licenses. For now, Missourians who anticipate needing to travel by air or visit a federal facility next year are encouraged to apply for a passport to ensure their travel plans will not be impeded in the event DHS does not grant an extension.
800 New National Guard Jobs Coming to Missouri: Governor Eric Greitens recently joined Missouri National Guard Adjutant General Stephen Danner to announce hundreds of new jobs coming to Missouri. The new jobs include transportation units, military police units, and cyber units. Some of the units are being transferred from other states into Missouri. The governor says the new jobs are expected to have an economic impact of $15 million. Missouri currently has approximately 9,300 Army National Guard soldiers.
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Please contact me at Patricia.Pike@house.mo.gov or call 573-751-5388 with your comments and for assistance on state issues, resolutions, flags, and visits in District and at the Capitol.
