Washington D.C. - Arkansas Senators Tom Cotton and John Boozman today reintroduced legislation that prevents illegal aliens from taking jobs meant for American workers and legal immigrants while ensuring employers have the tools they need to certify a legal workforce. The Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act would permanently authorize the E-Verify program, an internet-based system that assists employers in determining whether current or prospective employees are authorized to work in the United States. The bill requires employers to use E-Verify to determine eligibility of every employee.
The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Jim Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), David Perdue (R-Georgia) and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). Representative Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) is introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
"Most illegal immigrants come here in search of jobs, where they ultimately compete against working Americans in the job market, bidding down wages. Because illegal aliens are willing to work under the table for little pay and few benefits, crooked employers have a strong incentive to hire them, regardless of the law. Permanent, nationwide E-Verify will help us build an economy that works for American citizens, while eliminating a serious incentive for illegal aliens to come here in violation of our laws." Cotton said.
"E-Verify is a commonsense, cost-effective tool that provides employers with confidence during the hiring process while holding bad actors accountable when they try to cheat the system. It has a proven track record of success and should be permanently reauthorized and made mandatory for employers," Boozman said.
Currently, employers voluntarily submit information from an employee's Form I-9 to the Department of Homeland Security through the E-Verify system, which works in partnership with the Social Security Administration to determine worker eligibility. There is no cost for employers to use E-Verify. More than 750,000 businesses use the program today.
E-Verify was established in 1996 as a pilot program with employers in five states allowed to participate. The pilot program was reauthorized in 2001, expanded to employers in every state in 2003 under Grassley-authored legislation and reauthorized several times since 2008.
The Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act does the following: