House Reauthorizes E-Verify for Three Years

Statement

The House of Representatives today passed a bill to reauthorize E-Verify for three years. This successful, web-based program quickly identifies illegal immigrants working in the U.S. and protects jobs for legal workers. The bill, S. 3245, also reauthorizes the EB-5 Regional Center Pilot, the Conrad 30 J-1 Visa Waiver, and the Special Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Programs for three years. The bill passed by a vote of 412-3 and now heads to the President's desk for signature.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) praised today's vote.

Chairman Smith: "The E-Verify program allows employers to electronically verify that newly-hired employees are authorized to work in the United States. The program is free, quick and easy to use. Nearly 400,000 American employers use E-Verify and over 1,000 new businesses sign up for it every week.

"The American public overwhelmingly supports E-Verify. Last year a Rasmussen poll found that 82% of likely voters "think businesses should be required to use the federal government's E-Verify system to determine if a potential employee is in the country legally.' E-Verify has also received bipartisan Congressional support in the past. In 2008, the House passed a five-year extension of E-Verify by a vote of 407 -- 2. And in 2009, the Senate passed a permanent E-Verify extension by voice vote.

"Ensuring that businesses have access to E-Verify will help preserve jobs for the 23 million Americans who are currently unemployed or looking for full-time work. I thank Senator Leahy and Senator Grassley for their leadership on this bill."

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