[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 21, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S2305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Lee, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Enzi, Mrs. 
        Fischer, Mr. Corker, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Wicker, Mrs. 
        Capito, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Sessions, and Mr. Perdue):
  S. 1032. A bill to expand the use of E-Verify, to hold employers 
accountable, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  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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