Tucson lawmaker testifies before key House immigration panel on the need to overhaul E-Verify
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords told a key House immigration panel today that the federal government must provide businesses with a realistic, responsible way to verify the legal status of new employees.
The Tucson lawmaker was one of only four members of Congress invited to testify before the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. The subcommittee is considering the New Employee Verification Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at providing a much-needed alternative to the current E-Verify system that numerous businesses find unreliable.
NEVA was introduced recently by U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, a Republican from Texas. It currently has 35 cosponsors, including Giffords and fellow Arizona lawmakers Trent Franks of Glendale and Harry Mitchell of Tempe. NEVA also is strongly supported by numerous business organizations, including chambers of commerce in Tucson, Sierra Vista and Marana.
Click here for the text of Giffords' testimony and click here for a video of her delivering it.