Before U.S. House Policy Committee, McKeon Details

Key Findings of Education & the Workforce

Border Security, Enforcement Hearings

Hearings Revealed Controversial Senate Proposals,

Underscored Need to Improve Employment Verification Measures

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Before a forum hosted by the U.S. House Republican Policy Committee, Education & the Workforce Committee Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) today discussed the key findings of a series of border security and immigration enforcement hearings held by his panel throughout the summer. 

McKeon detailed for the policy panel’s Chairman Adam Putnam (R-FL) and other Members of the elected House leadership two important benefits of the hearings as Congress works to send President Bush legislation to strengthen border security and bolster immigration enforcement.  First, he noted, the proceedings revealed some controversial components buried in the immigration bill passed by the Senate earlier this year.  Additionally, the hearings underscored the need to improve measures employers use to verify the work eligibility of those they hire.

“Our hearings exposed some flawed and – frankly – bizarre provisions in the Senate bill,” McKeon told the panel.  “Witnesses at an August hearing in Georgia expressed shock and strong opposition to the Senate proposal to force some employers to pay guest workers more than Americans doing the same job in the same city.  And earlier this month at a hearing in Colorado, witnesses assailed the Senate proposal to provide in-state college tuition rates to illegal aliens unless the state also offers the same benefit to all U.S. citizens.  On these once little-known provisions in the Senate bill, sunshine has proven to be the best disinfectant.”

McKeon also expressed confidence that the hearings will provide valuable guidance as Congress considers how potential border security and enforcement efforts impact American workers and employers.  At a July hearing in Texas, for example, witnesses provided insights on improving and expanding employment verification rules.  A chief focus of the border security and immigration enforcement debate has been how best to ensure those seeking employment inside U.S. borders are, in fact, legally able to work on American soil.

“A Dallas-based Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent told us that his agency could more effectively enforce our laws if we provided them access to Social Security information,” noted McKeon.  “This would help the agency ascertain what employers are using duplicative Social Security numbers or numbers that are being used in multiple locations, thereby helping them more effectively target illegal aliens.”

At the same Texas field hearing, several representatives of the employer community embraced added responsibility in the fight against illegal immigration, providing advice on how to fine-tune the Basic Pilot program and enhance other tools used to verify a new hire’s U.S. employment eligibility. 

“The lesson Congress should take away from this is to not lose sight of the critical role employers themselves play in shaping and implementing a workable, cohesive enforcement strategy,” McKeon concluded.

In July, the Education & the Workforce Committee launched a series of hearings focused on immigration reform issues within its jurisdiction.  Hearing topics included guest worker programs, wage and education benefits for illegal immigrants, English language education, and employment verification measures.  Hearings were held on Capitol Hill and in Plano, Texas; Gainesville, Georgia and Greeley, Colorado.  For more information on Education & the Workforce Committee border security and enforcement activities, please visit http://edworkforce.house.gov/issues/109th/workforce/immigration/immigration.htm.

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