E&W Blog

In Case You Missed It,Americans’ wages are being driven down by unfair competition with those who aren’t legally eligible to work in this country.The impact is real: a 2022studyestimated that unauthorized workers make up roughly 2.5 percent of Pennsylvania’s workforce, about 150,000 workers—creating a noticeable strain on the job market. Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chairman Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA)outline this issue in an op-ed for the Lehighton Times News on the heels of Wednesday’s hearing titled“E-Verify: Ensuring Lawful Employment in America.”

Pennsylvania led on E-Verify; model going nationwide By Reps. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) November 19, 2025

Pennsylvanians want fairness—whether it’s at the gas pump, in their tax bill, or on the job site. To achieve this, we must ensure that our laws reflect the needs of our communities. By verifying that workers are legally eligible to work in this country, we protect economic opportunity for American workers and ensure their wages aren’t driven down by unfair competition.

…One of the most effective tools we have to keep the playing field level is E-Verify, a free and fast system run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that lets employers confirm a worker’s legal eligibility in a matter of seconds. Nearly 1.5 million employers use E-Verify nationwide, representing about 20 percent of U.S. companies, and participation grows every year. 
 
Pennsylvania has real experience with this. As a state representative, Ryan Mackenzie authored the law requiring E-Verify in the construction industry. His legislation provided a commonsense model to strengthen workforce integrity without creating unnecessary burdens for job creators.

…That’s why we are working on legislation that does just that: supporting and improving E-Verify so that American workers have the protections they deserve. Rep. Mackenzie’s Day 1, Dollar 1 E-Verify Act requires all federal contractors to use E-Verify, ensuring that taxpayer-funded jobs go to workers who are legally authorized to work in the U.S. 
 
There’s broad consensus on this across Pennsylvania—and across America. Employers don’t want to be undercut. Workers don’t want to lose hours or pay. And families can’t afford to be squeezed in an economy where their wages depend on whether someone else cuts corners.

…Pennsylvania helped lead the way once. Now it can help lead the nation.
 
Read the full op-ed here.