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Boozman Supports Employer Verification Bill

Press Release

Date: June 13, 2007
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Immigration


Boozman Supports Employer Verification Bill

U.S. Representative John Boozman (R-AR) today announced his support of legislation which would require federal contractors to participate in the basic pilot program for employment eligibility verification.

H.R. 2508, introduced by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA), requires employers who contract with the federal government to use the verification program which is now voluntary for all other businesses. The Basic Pilot Program is administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Employers utilize this employee authorization verification program to verify newly hired employees. The Internet-based system is available in all 50 states and is free to employers.

"It is important to the security of our nation that contractors working with the federal government are able to determine the eligibility and identity of their employees and this legislation is the proper step toward accomplishing this goal," Boozman said. "The program is currently voluntary for businesses, but we want to require companies doing business with us to only employ eligible workers."

This bill will also affect contractors who do business at military bases, or other federal installations.

"Last month, immigration agents arrested a dozen illegal immigrants working for contractors at Camp Robinson in Little Rock, a key National Guard training base," Boozman said. "This bill can prevent occurrences like this from happening in the future, by requiring contractors which provide services to military installations to ensure their workers are supposed to be working in the United States."

Boozman added that requiring employers to verify worker eligibility can result in better wages.

"This bill is an added protection for American workers, by requiring employers on federal building projects to hire only workers who are eligible to work here. This will prevent workers' wages from being undercut, and will result in a benefit for our economy," Boozman said.


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