Bill would make E-Verify mandatory within a year

The Daily Record Newswire Legislation introduced in the Senate would make use of the federal E-Verify system mandatory for all employers within one year of enactment. The "Achieving Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act," S. 1196, would also boost penalties for employers who don't use the system or illegally hire undocumented workers. Use of the federal online database, which matches a worker's identification with data collected by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration, has been voluntary for all but some federal employers and contractors. A bid by states such as Arizona to make use of the program mandatory was recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. "E-Verify has already proven effective in combating the hiring of illegal aliens," said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, a sponsor of the bill and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. "It's a simple tool for employers who want to comply with the law in a digital age." Published: Thu, Jul 7, 2011