Congressional struggles again to reauthorize E-Verify program, what’s Mccain position on this
E-Verify Reauthorization Stalled With Time Running Out
Congressional efforts to reauthorize E-Verify, the electronic work authorization verification program, have stalled despite bipartisan efforts of many Members to bring a bill to the floor. The program, vital to combating the unlawful employment of illegal aliens, will expire in November if legislation to reauthorize the bill does not pass both the House and Senate before the fall recess. In March, Representative Ken Calvert (R-CA), along with sixteen cosponsors, introduced H.R.5596, which would extend the E-Verify program for a ten-year period. Plans to bring the bill to the floor were halted earlier this month when Representative Sam Johnson (R-TX) insisted that language be added to the bill that could jeopardize future funding of the operation of the program. In short, Rep. Johnson’s language would prohibit the Social Security Administration (SSA) from ever spending any of its own funds to implement the program. Since the program is a joint effort of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and SSA, this means that if DHS ever fails to enter into a reimbursement agreement with SSA, the SSA database could not be used to verify an employee’s legal work status.