Chairman Mackenzie Leads Hearing on Strengthening E-Verify to Protect American Workers

Washington, D.C. — Today, Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, held a hearing titled “E-Verify: Ensuring Lawful Employment in America.” The hearing examined how strengthening and expanding the E-Verify program can help ensure lawful hiring practices, protect American workers from unfair competition, and support employers who follow the law.

E-Verify is a free federal system that allows employers to quickly verify whether a prospective employee is legally authorized to work in the United States. Nearly 1.5 million employers currently participate nationwide.

Witnesses from the construction industry, homebuilding sector, and immigration policy community, testified about the current use of E-Verify. Topics included compliance challenges and opportunities to improve accuracy, enforcement, and contractor requirements.

“Following Congress and the President’s unprecedented success in securing the border, we can focus on the illegal and unauthorized labor already in the country and the challenges it causes for American workers,” said Workforce Protections Chairman Mackenzie. “American jobs and wages belong to those with a legal right to work in our country, but millions of workers are being squeezed by illegal competition. Most employers do the right thing, but when bad actors knowingly hire unauthorized workers, it drives down wages, eliminates opportunities for American workers, and creates unfair advantages. Strengthening E-Verify is a commonsense way to protect workers and support businesses that play by the rules.”

“As the Trump administration continues to secure our nation’s borders, Republicans are doing our part in Congress to address the illegal immigration crisis in our workforce. Hiring illegal aliens undercuts wages of working Americans and makes it harder for honest, law-abiding employers to compete in the American economy. Today’s hearing, led by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, provided strong insights into the benefits of E-Verify and how we can continue to strengthen the program for employers and job creators—and protect the wages of hardworking American families,” said Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI).

Chairman Mackenzie is a longtime advocate for expanding the use of E-Verify. As a Pennsylvania state representative, he authored and passed a bipartisan law mandating the use of E-Verify in the construction industry. Mackenzie has also introduced legislation — the Day 1, Dollar 1 E-Verify Act — to require all federal contractors to use E-Verify. While federal contractors are generally required to use the system because of existing regulation, small-dollar and short-term contracts are excluded. Congressman Mackenzie’s legislation would remove this loophole and codify the mandatory use of E-Verify by all federal contractors. 

“Families across the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos expect fairness in hiring, pay, and opportunity,” said Workforce Protections Chairman Mackenzie. “Strengthening E-Verify helps protect wages, prevent abuse, and protect employers who act responsibly.”

A full recording of the hearing is available HERE.

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