WASHINGTON, D.C. May 8, 2008 – On Tuesday, May 6, 2008. Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA) testified in defense of E-Verify, a program Rep. Calvert created in 1996 (testimony attached).

"While I appreciated the opportunity to testify, it was clear that the hearing, as evidenced by the second witness panel, was slanted against E-Verify," stated Rep. Calvert. "The fact remains that E-Verify is the only tool available for employers, who are required to hire a legal workforce, to check the veracity of identification documents presented by a new employee."

Rep. Calvert testified to the effectiveness of E-Verify, created by legislation Rep. Calvert authored in 1996. The State of Arizona made participation in E-Verify mandatory for all employers and to date there have been no reported problems with the system. E-Verify instantly verifies 92.7% of employees. Of the remaining almost 7%, only .5% are successfully contested.

"There are certain interests that simply do not want employment verification," said Rep. Calvert. "That is why they will denounce E-Verify and assert that there is a perfect system out there somewhere, when in fact there is no perfect system. The Social Security Administration database is the best database to use to check the status of legal workers. The complaints that Social Security should not be involved with E-Verify do not make sense. There are ‘errors’ for numerous reasons. Sometimes people forget to update their records after a name change, employees accidentally write in a wrong digit on their I-9 form, or bureaucrats make mistakes entering information into the database. If a citizen of the U.S. receives a mismatch, it is an opportunity for them to update or correct their records – something they will be required to do at some point in their lives anyway. The Social Security database should be current, accurate and sacrosanct.

"Furthermore, the states are picking up where the U.S. Congress if failing by requiring, at different levels, the use of E-Verify. The question before Congress is whether we will continue to shirk our responsibilities and follow instead of lead. My bill, H.R. 19, creates a nationwide mandate that all employers use E-Verify over a phase in period of seven years. The American people have loudly declared their support of mandatory employment verification; it’s time Congress act."

Additionally, given the bi-partisan commitment to employment verification demonstrated at today’s hearing, Rep. Calvert calls on HR Initiative (www.hrinitiative.org) to end their campaign of negative advertising, and often exaggerated, claims against E-Verify.

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