Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

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Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, in 1986, Congress made it unlawful for
employers to knowingly hire or employ individuals who are not eligible
to work in the United States. Identity theft and counterfeit documents
have made a mockery of this law.

Under current law, if the documents provided by an employee
reasonably appear on their face to be genuine, the employer has met its
obligation to review the worker's documents. This is why Congress
created a pilot program, known as the Basic Pilot program, to help
employers verify the work eligibility of its new hires.

This program has allowed employers to check records maintained by the
Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.
It was successful, and in 2003, Congress made the program available in
all 50 States.

Now known as E-Verify, this nationwide program is free for employers
and accessible via the internet. This program has been a valuable tool
for those who want to hire a legal workforce. Employers like it. In
fact, according to Westat, a private statistical survey research
corporation that conducted a survey last year, 97 percent of employers
found E-Verify user-friendly, and 92 percent said the program was
effective. Employers also reported that ``E-Verify takes the guess work
out of determining the validity of documents, provides immediate
results, offers reassurance that the company is not hiring unauthorized
workers, and helps them to show a good faith effort to comply with the
law.''

So, today, along with several colleagues, I am introducing
legislation to permanently authorize and expand the E-Verify program.
My bill, the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act, will
ensure that employers can rely on this program while holding them
accountable for their hiring practices.

My bill would make E-Verify a staple in every workplace. It would
pave the way to modify and simplify the I-9 process required today. It
would increase penalties on employers who hire people unauthorized to
work in the country. Employers would be required to check the status of
current employees within three years, and would allow employers to run
a check prior to offering a job, saving that employer valuable time and
resources. Employers will also be required to re-check those workers
whose authorization is about to expire, such as those who come to the
United States on temporary visas.

As Congress considers the reauthorization of E-Verify this year, I
hope my bill will be a starting point for discussion. We need to
enhance and expand the program so that our immigration laws are being
upheld. I hope my colleagues will consider joining me in making E-
Verify a permanent part of our immigration laws.

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