May 9, 2008

Subject:

Rep. Calvert Defends Mandatory Employment Verification

Dear Friends,

This week I testified before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security in support of legislation I introduced to make employment verification mandatory (H.R. 19).  As many of you know, in 1996 I created the only system available to employers to check if a new employee is authorized to work in the U.S.  The program is known as E-Verify and it provides a way for employers to electronically check that the name and Social Security number given on an I-9 form match. 

            The Social Security Subcommittee called the hearing because E-Verify uses the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) database in the verification process for U.S. citizens (including naturalized citizens).  Non-citizens, such as people here on a work visa, are run through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) database.  There are currently over 63,000 employers participating in E-Verify and both Arizona and Mississippi have made it mandatory. E-Verify instantly verifies 92.7% of employees.  Of the remaining 7%, only one percent of employees contest a mismatched E-Verify result and half of those - .5% - are successfully contested. 

E-Verify is doing the job it was intended: denying jobs to people who are not authorized to work in the U.S.  An employee is given eight business days to contact SSA or DHS about their case if they received a tentative non-confirmation (i.e., the name and Social Security number do not match).  DHS has expanded their national call center so that people may call a toll free number in lieu of physically going to their local SSA field office.

            Although the hearing was cordial, it was clearly slanted against E-Verify.  There are certain interests that simply do not want employment verification.  That is why they will denounce E-Verify and claim that there is a perfect system that should replace E-Verify, when in fact no system exists.  The SSA 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. 

            The question raised during the committee was really about resources.  Congress must protect the Social Security system and not overload our SSA field offices whose primary duties are to process Social Security claims.  However, I do believe we can phase in mandatory employment verification in a thoughtful way and provide the necessary resources to both SSA and DHS. 

The fact remains that we must gain control over our borders.  The solution is three-fold: a double-layer border fence, robust interior enforcement and an end to the job magnet.  As the State of Arizona has demonstrated, mandatory employment verification works.  The cost of implementing it nationwide is inconsequential to the peace of mind from knowing who is in our country.  The end of illegal immigration would also save billions in health care, education, criminal justice and other expenses mostly incurred by the states. 

While I will continue to fight to make E-Verify mandatory for all employers, it is imperative that Congress authorize an extension of the existing voluntary program which is due to expire on November 30, 2008.  I introduced H.R. 5596 to provide a simple ten year extension of the current program and will be pressuring House and Senate Leaders to pass this vital legislation.

I know that the residents of the 44^th Congressional District of California live with the negative impacts of illegal immigration every day and I welcome your input on employment verification.

Sincerely,

KEN CALVERT

Member of Congress

P.S.  If you are a business interested in signing up with E-Verify, visit www.dhs.gov/everify