[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE LEGAL EMPLOYMENT AUTHENTICATION PROGRAM (LEAP) ACT OF 1999

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                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 1999

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, today this Member rises with his 
distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Nebraska, Mr. Barrett, in 
introducing the Legal Employment and Authentication program (LEAP) Act 
of 1999 which will provide employers nationwide with the tools they 
need to hire a legal workforce.
  While some businesses clearly have flouted the laws prohibiting the 
employment of illegal aliens, many other businesses have indeed tried 
to comply with the laws. Unfortunately, the current employment 
verification programs provided by the INS for compliance with those 
laws have fallen short. The programs fail to detect sophisticated forms 
of identity and document fraud used by illegal aliens. Also, the 
current programs are limited to businesses based in seven states.
  The proposed LEAP Act we are introducing would create a strictly 
voluntary employment verification program to address those faults. It 
will grant all participating employers access to information regarding 
a newly hired employees' eligibility to work in this country, and it 
will be available to all states.
  This Member is pleased to be an original cosponsor of this 
legislation, urges Members to cosponsor it, and strongly supports the 
passage of LEAP early in the next session of the 106th Congress.

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