Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Heath Shuler and Peter Roskam sent a letter to
President Barack Obama Thursday night urging his Administration not to delay a rule that would
require federal contractors with contracts of more than $100,000 to screen their employees
through the E-Verify system.
E-Verify is currently a voluntary, online program that allows employers to ensure their employees
are legally entitled to work in the U.S. Shuler introduced legislation in the 110th Congress, the
SAVE Act, that would phase in the E-Verify system for all American employers over several
years.
President Bush had signed an Executive Order requiring the federal government to use electronic
employment verification for federal contractors by January 15, 2009. The effective date was
subsequently moved to February 1, 2009 under the Bush Administration. The Obama
Administration has now delayed implementation until May 21, 2009.
In their letter Shuler and Roskam point out that, “given the present tumultuous state of the
American economy…it is now more important than ever to ensure that federal contracting work
is performed by a verified, legal workforce.”
Shuler and Roskam’s complete letter is below.
_____________________________________________________________________
January 29, 2009
Dear President Obama:
We are writing to respectfully urge you to consider immediate implementation of
mandatory employment verification requirements for federal contractors.
As you know, on November 14, 2008, the Federal Register published a final rule
promulgated by The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition
Regulations Council to require federal contractors and subcontractors to use the
Department of Homeland Security’s simple and efficient E-Verify technology to
determine the employment eligibility of their workforce.
Although the rule was released with an original effective date of January 15, 2009, the
implementation was subsequently delayed until February 1, 2009. According to a notice
to be published in the Federal Register on Friday, January 30, 2009, your Administration
will now further delay implementation until May 21, 2009.
E-Verify is an easy, internet-based system which allows employers to determine the
legal employment status of employees using simple personal data and a Social Security
number. E-Verify immediately confirms 99.4% of work-eligible employees, and U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services evaluations have reported that 96% of all
participating employers do not believe the system overburdens their staff. To date,
nearly 100,000 private businesses are already voluntarily using E-Verify to comply with
our nation’s immigration laws.
Given the present tumultuous state of the American economy, we believe that it is now
more important than ever to ensure that federal contracting work is performed by a
verified, legal workforce. Rising unemployment and a contracted credit market are
making it harder for American families to make ends meet.
As you rightly stated on January 28, 2009, “The workers who are returning home to tell
their husbands and wives and children that they no longer have a job…they need help
now”. We believe that reasonable accommodations have been made to give federal
contractors ample time to prepare to comply with employment verification
requirements. It is essential that the federal government lead by example and
immediately apply mandatory employment verification standards for all federal
contractors.
Thank you for your full consideration in this matter. The American people are looking to
your leadership to create and sustain jobs and promote renewed growth and innovation
in our nation’s economy.
Sincerely,
Peter J. Roskam Heath Shuler
Member of Congress Member of Congress
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Download: Reps. Shuler & Roskam Urge Obama not to Delay E-Verify Requirement for Federal Contractors