State Rep. Jill Cooper (R-Westmoreland) has raised concerns following reports that Akhror Bozorov, a 31-year-old Uzbek national who is in the country illegally and allegedly has ties to terrorism, was able to obtain a Pennsylvania Commercial Driver’s License with a REAL ID indication. Cooper highlighted ongoing frustrations among residents regarding difficulties in obtaining REAL IDs due to issues such as staffing shortages at PennDOT centers, long wait times, and strict documentation requirements.
Cooper stated, “It’s beyond frightening to think of what damage Mr. Bozorov could have caused while operating an 80,000-pound vehicle and what he could have been transporting. Safeguarding against terrorists was the primary goal of implementing REAL ID, and clearly, officials missed something in this case.”
She emphasized that the incident raises public safety concerns since REAL IDs grant access to air travel, military installations, and federal buildings. Cooper pointed out the contrast between constituents who are denied REAL IDs over documentation issues and someone wanted for terrorist activity being granted one. She said, “Imagine the anger of those having to spend countless hours securing government documents about a birth or marriage that occurred 50 or more years ago, only to learn an individual wanted in his home country since 2022 for terrorist activity is granted such an ID. This individual could have voted, boarded domestic flights and even potentially entered a military base with ease, while well meaning, hardworking Pennsylvanians cannot.”
Cooper also criticized a proposed Transportation Security Administration rule that would require travelers without a REAL ID to pay an $18 fee at security checkpoints. She noted that many Pennsylvanians would be subject to this fee while Bozorov would not.
While expressing relief that federal authorities have taken Bozorov into custody, Cooper called for further action. “The leaders of the Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus sent a letter to Attorney General Dave Sunday and Auditor General Tim DeFoor demanding an investigation to find out how this happened and prevent reoccurrence. I completely support these calls for answers. We need to get to the bottom of this to ensure Pennsylvanians are safe and our elections remain secure,” she said.
In addition to addressing the REAL ID issue, Cooper shared information on National Family Caregivers Month in November. Nearly one quarter of adults in Pennsylvania provide unpaid care for family members each year. According to AARP data, these caregivers contribute $22 billion worth of unpaid care annually within the state.
Cooper encouraged caregivers seeking assistance or resources to use the PA CareKit offered by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging at pa.gov/agencies/aging/pa-carekit.
She also promoted support for local businesses following Small Business Saturday on November 29. There are nearly 35 million small businesses nationwide—comprising almost all companies—and they employ close to half of all private sector workers. Shopping locally keeps more money circulating within communities compared with spending at large chains or online retailers.
“Shopping small isn’t just nice; it’s one of the most powerful things you can do for the place you call home,” Cooper stated.
For additional information or assistance from Rep. Cooper’s office, constituents can visit RepJillCooper.com or Facebook.com/RepJillCooper.
