Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Rhode Island will get $742,875 in federal money that U.S. Sen Jack Reed said will improve emergency response communications and help protect people from identity theft.

The Rhode Island Democrat's office announced late today $242,000 of that will be awarded through a grant program to help Rhode Island’s emergency communications by doing planning, training and other preparedness exercises.

The other $500,000 will come via the 2008 REAL ID Demonstration Grant Program to standardize drivers’ licenses.

"This money will help train and equip emergency management officials and first responders to protect the public and respond to any threats or disasters that may strike,” Reed said in a statement of the emergency communications preparedness money. Of the ID grant, he said: “This federal grant will also help Rhode Island comply with new federal guidelines for state-issued driver’s licenses to help prevent fraud and identity theft.”

The money comes through the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Comments

Ray R. Hogarth said:

Does this action give us the right to sue the state if we have our identity taken. I believe if the state takes money from the Feds the state should be held accountable. R.R.H

Link | June 22, 2008 9:57 AM
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lee317 said:

This bill is more than just a way to protect citizens from ID theft. The real ID program will create a nationally liked database of citizen's movement, information, and history without restriction on who can pull data from the cards.
read more

Link | June 22, 2008 2:50 PM
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