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Ohio Senate urges Congress to reissue Department of Defense civilian retiree ID cards
Summary
The Ohio Senate unanimously adopted a concurrent resolution urging Congress to restore civilian retiree identification cards that ease access to military installations for former Department of Defense civilian employees.
The Ohio Senate on April 1 unanimously adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 urging Congress to reissue Department of Defense civilian retiree identification cards for qualified civilian retirees.
The resolution, sponsored by Senator Kaler, responds to complaints that changes in DOD access policy have made base visits and recreational access more difficult for longtime civilian employees and retirees. Proponents said restoring the cards would reduce burdens on veterans and civilians who served alongside uniformed personnel.
Senator Kaler, the resolution sponsor, described the practical effects on retirees and their families and urged colleagues to approve the measure. "These individuals are incredible dedicated civil servants who have been made to feel like second class citizens after dedicating their lives and career to the Department of Defense," Senator Kaler said on the floor. Kaler recounted constituent Robert Beach’s experience and cited other retirees who now must present retirement documents and a Real ID at each installation and request access from installation commanders.
Senator Weinstein, who supported the resolution, framed it as a morale and community issue. "Our civilian force...are absolutely part of the family, 1 team, 1 fight," Weinstein said, and urged colleagues to vote yes. Senator Craig also voiced support, saying the measure was "the least that we can do" for those who served.
The resolution passed by voice and roll call: 32 yeas, 0 nays. The resolution is nonbinding; it urges Congress to act but does not itself change federal policy.
The measure does not specify a legislative or administrative path for Congress to follow if it acts. The Senate record shows supporters asking federal lawmakers to reinstate the civilian retiree IDs and to ensure the cards are accepted for recreational access to installations without repeated command-level permissions. The resolution text was not read into the record in full during floor debate; Senators Kaler, Weinstein and Craig provided the principal floor remarks recorded in the transcript.
Votes at a glance: Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 — adopted, roll call 32-0.
The Senate returned to routine business after the vote; the resolution is a formal expression of the Ohio Senate’s position to federal lawmakers.
