Sam Johnson fights to create a legal U.S. workforce:
House passes temporary employment verification bill

July 31, 2008

U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (3rd Dist.-Texas),a long time critic of illegal immigration, voted for a bill that extends the current immigration worksite enforcement system known as “E-Verify”.

The House passed H.R. 6633, introduced by Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), by a vote of 407-2-4. Representative Sam Johnson was an original cosponsor of the bill and as the Senior Republican on the Social Security Subcommittee was instrumental in reaching the compromise that made the legislation possible. E-Verify is a partnership between the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security that allows employers to check the work authorization status of newly hired employees. This voluntary plan is the only tool in the government offers to help employers comply with immigration law.

The House-passed bill extends this pilot program for five years and ensures that both agencies with responsibility for E-Verify are properly funded. The funding for SSA has been a point of conflict since DHS did not pay SSA for its work in 2005 and 2006. On July 25, the two agencies finally reconciled budgets and SSA was paid for previous work.

“This legislation strikes the proper balance between extending this needed program and ensuring seniors, people with disabilities, and their families receive the support they have earned, said Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member Sam Johnson (R-TX). Congress is finally recognizing Social Security’s essential role in worksite enforcement by making sure the agency is paid for their hard work. Today’s bill is a step in the right direction but this Congress must get to work on real immigration reform.”

“This extension is, unfortunately, the least we can do to provide a workable tool for employers who want to do the right thing and verify that their new employees are authorized to work in this country. America needs real immigration reform. We need to protect our borders and make sure Americans are not fighting for jobs with people who are here illegally,” concluded Johnson.

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