Senator Eric Pratt has issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s extension of Minnesota’s waiver to comply with the federal REAL ID law:

“Yesterday, the federal government made clear that every Minnesotan with a valid driver’s license will be able to board planes, access military bases, and enter federal buildings until at least January 22, 2018,” said Sen. Pratt. “Not only does this action extend our original waiver, but it signals that the federal government is willing to work with our state since the bipartisan passage of REAL ID last session. As chief author of that bill, I will continue to work with our governor and the Department of Homeland Security in order to ensure Minnesotans are able to continue business as usual.”

During the 2017 legislature, Senator Pratt was the chief Senate author of HF 3, legislation that made Minnesota’s driver’s licenses and identification cards compliant with federal REAL ID standards.  After passing through the Senate and House with near unanimous support, the governor signed the bill into law last May.