REP. CALVERT RESPONDS TO NEW GAO REPORT ON THE WORKFORCE AND IMMIGRATION
April 9, 2009
Press Release
Today, the General Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report regarding the current employer verification system and provided recommendations on how to improve it. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Corona) is the author of H.R. 19, which would make the Basic Pilot Program mandatory for all employers nation-wide. The Basic Pilot Program was a major focus of the GAO study.
In response to the study, Rep. Calvert issued the following statement:
"There is a growing consensus in America that we must improve our employee verification system and turn off the job-magnet, which is the major cause of illegal immigration. The Basic Pilot Program is the only electronic verification system that automatically checks the name and Social Security Number of all new employees. People need to understand that a mandatory electronic employee verification system will be included in any comprehensive immigration bill that Congress considers and the Basic Pilot Program is the only verification system currently operating. The Basic Pilot Program is available to all employers on a voluntary system and should be made mandatory.
"I welcome the GAO study and appreciate their recommendations on how to improve the Basic Pilot Program. I would like to see their recommendation implemented by the Department of Homeland Security in order to prepare the Basic Pilot Program for mandatory use."
Summary of H.R. 19 and the Basic Pilot Program
The Basic Pilot Program
The Basic Pilot program double checks the information on employee's I-9 Immigration Forms. It may not be used as a discriminatory screening tool; only newly hired employees are checked.
Since November 1997, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program have been conducting the Basic Pilot program in the States of California, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, New York and Texas. The program was made available to employers in all states starting December 20, 2004. The Basic Pilot involves verification checks of the SSA and the now Department of Homeland Security databases of all newly hired employees, regardless of citizenship.
The Basic Pilot program is currently a voluntary program and is free to employers who volunteer to participate. The Basic Pilot is used by over 4,000 employers and used at nearly 15,000 worksites nationwide.
For more information, visit http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/SAVE.htm#two.
H.R. 19 would make a number of changes to the Basic Pilot program, which are summarized below.
In response to the study, Rep. Calvert issued the following statement:
"There is a growing consensus in America that we must improve our employee verification system and turn off the job-magnet, which is the major cause of illegal immigration. The Basic Pilot Program is the only electronic verification system that automatically checks the name and Social Security Number of all new employees. People need to understand that a mandatory electronic employee verification system will be included in any comprehensive immigration bill that Congress considers and the Basic Pilot Program is the only verification system currently operating. The Basic Pilot Program is available to all employers on a voluntary system and should be made mandatory.
"I welcome the GAO study and appreciate their recommendations on how to improve the Basic Pilot Program. I would like to see their recommendation implemented by the Department of Homeland Security in order to prepare the Basic Pilot Program for mandatory use."
Summary of H.R. 19 and the Basic Pilot Program
The Basic Pilot Program
The Basic Pilot program double checks the information on employee's I-9 Immigration Forms. It may not be used as a discriminatory screening tool; only newly hired employees are checked.
Since November 1997, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Program have been conducting the Basic Pilot program in the States of California, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, New York and Texas. The program was made available to employers in all states starting December 20, 2004. The Basic Pilot involves verification checks of the SSA and the now Department of Homeland Security databases of all newly hired employees, regardless of citizenship.
The Basic Pilot program is currently a voluntary program and is free to employers who volunteer to participate. The Basic Pilot is used by over 4,000 employers and used at nearly 15,000 worksites nationwide.
For more information, visit http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/SAVE.htm#two.
H.R. 19 would make a number of changes to the Basic Pilot program, which are summarized below.
- The name would change from the Basic Pilot program to the Employment Eligibility Verification System (EEVS).
- The authorization for the current system expires in 2008, H.R. 19 would extend it indefinitely.
- H.R. 19 would authorize all necessary funding for EEVS.
- H.R. 19 would require employers to use the program, based on the following phase-in timeline:
- 1 year after the enactment of the bill: Employers with more than 10,000 employees (1,500 companies)
- 2 years: Employers with more than 5,000 employees (an additional 3,000 companies)
- 3 years: Employers with more than 1,000 employees (an additional 10,000 companies)
- 4 years: Employers with more than 500 employees (an additional 13,200 companies)
- 5 years: Employers with more than 250 employees (an additional 33,000 companies)
- 6 years: Employers with more than 100 employees (an additional 140,000 companies)
- 7 years: All employers with 1 or more employees (an additional 12,000,000 companies)
###
Issues: