E&W Blog

Democrats had four years to secure the border and tackle inflation—they didn't. President Trump did. Now, Republicans are securing American wages too—thanks to E-Verify, which was the focus of today’s Subcommittee on Workforce Protections hearing.
 
Subcommittee Chairman Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) started the hearing by explaining his legislation to expand E-Verify. “An area where mandatory E-Verify makes clear sense is for federal contractors. Under federal regulation, federal government contractors must use E-Verify, but small-dollar and short-term contracts are excluded,” he explained. “I have introduced H.R. 2641, the Day 1, Dollar 1 E-Verify Act, to codify a requirement that all federal contractors use E-Verify. We should all agree that businesses providing services to the federal government must verify their workers are lawful.”
 
From there, witnesses underscored how strengthening E-Verify is a critical tool in addressing both illegal hiring and broader immigration enforcement.

Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) asked what federal policies can help address workforce shortages in industries like construction. “Supporting apprenticeships, mentorships, [and] on-the-job training” help those “who don’t know much about construction but would be a great fit for the industry to be able to explore their own skills and their own strengths and be able to bring that into the industry,” said Mrs. Jaime Andress, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Caddell Construction, testifying on behalf of the Associated General Contractors of America. Chairman Walberg pointed to Workforce Pell—signed into law in July—as one example of how the Committee is responding to these needs, noting that the program provides short-term job-training Pell Grants to help people quickly gain career skills.

Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI) underlined the fact that those in the construction industry can have successful careers by asking Mr. Chris Gamvroulas, President of Ivory Development, testifying on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders, what tradesmen could make at his company. The answer? A carpenter with five years’ experience could make just under six figures, and a plumber would make even more than that.

Job creators shouldn’t have to compete against bad actors that cheat by hiring illegal workers. We need to level the playing field with E-Verify. Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL) explained what his constituents are seeing in Florida when bad actors don't follow the law: illegal workers undercut American worker wages, do not pay taxes, and cost taxpayers a fortune.

In an exchange with Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN), Ms. Rosemary Jenks, Co-Founder and Policy Director of the Immigration Accountability Project, emphasized how E-Verify helps American workers. “When we have flooded the labor force with illegal aliens, we have reduced wages for American workers. They have to compete with people who understandably are willing to work for less, willing to take fewer benefits, willing to cut corners on safety compliance and all of that,” she explained. “American workers should not have to compete against illegal aliens.”

Bottom line: Republicans are committed to pro-growth policies that allow lawful workers, job creators, and their families to thrive.