To amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to require all Federal contractors to participate in the E-verify program.

Bill Summary: Mandatory E-Verify for Federal Contractors

This bill would require all companies and businesses that have contracts with the federal government to use a system called E-Verify. E-Verify is a free, internet-based program run by the federal government that allows employers to check whether a newly hired employee is legally authorized to work in the United States. Currently, E-Verify is voluntary for most private employers, though some states and certain federal contractors are already required to use it. This bill would make participation mandatory for all federal contractors nationwide.

The bill would directly affect any business — large or small — that receives money from the federal government through contracts for goods or services. This includes a wide range of companies, from construction firms and technology companies to janitorial services and food suppliers. These businesses would be required to run their employees' information through the E-Verify database to confirm their work eligibility before or shortly after hiring them. Businesses that fail to comply could potentially lose their federal contracts.

The broader goal of the bill is to reduce the employment of individuals who are not legally authorized to work in the United States, specifically within the segment of the economy that does business with the federal government. The bill recently cleared a committee vote and is moving forward in the legislative process, though it has not yet been passed into law.