[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 136 (Wednesday, September 14, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H6142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PASS E-VERIFY TO CREATE AMERICAN JOBS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Smith) for 1 minute.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, for 2 years, 14 million Americans
have been out of work. Yet illegal workers hold 7 million jobs. It is
inexcusable that American workers have to compete with illegal
immigrants for scarce jobs.
Congress has the opportunity to open up millions of jobs for
unemployed Americans by requiring all U.S. employers to use E-Verify.
This program checks the Social Security numbers of new hires. E-Verify
is free, quick and easy to use. Individuals eligible to work in the
U.S. are confirmed 99.5 percent of the time.
The public also supports E-Verify. According to a recent Rasmussen
poll, 82 percent of likely voters think businesses should be required
to use E-Verify to determine if a new employee is in the country
legally. This is one of the most important job creation bills Congress
should pass and the President should sign.
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