South Carolina General Assembly
118th Session, 2009-2010

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Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

S. 428

STATUS INFORMATION

Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Senators L. Martin, Verdin, Bright, Alexander, Bryant and Rose
Document Path: l:\s-res\lam\006ever.mrh.lam.docx

Introduced in the Senate on February 17, 2009
Introduced in the House on February 17, 2009
Adopted by the General Assembly on February 26, 2009

Summary: E-verify

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2/17/2009  Senate  Introduced, adopted, sent to House SJ-3
   2/17/2009  House   Introduced HJ-23
   2/17/2009  House   Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial 
                        Resolutions HJ-23
   2/24/2009  House   Committee report: Favorable Invitations and Memorial 
                        Resolutions HJ-9
   2/26/2009  House   Adopted, returned to Senate with concurrence HJ-20

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

2/17/2009
2/24/2009

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

COMMITTEE REPORT

February 24, 2009

S. 428

Introduced by Senators L. Martin, Verdin, Bright, Alexander, Bryant and Rose

S. Printed 2/24/09--H.

Read the first time February 17, 2009.

            

THE COMMITTEE ON

INVITATIONS AND MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS

To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 428)

memorializing the Congress of the United States to make permanent the E-Verify, etc., respectfully

REPORT:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass:

LISTON D. BARFIELD for Committee.

            

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

MEMORIALIZING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO MAKE PERMANENT THE E-VERIFY PROGRAM.

Whereas, E-Verify is currently a voluntary Internet-based pilot program used to assist employers in verifying the work authorization of new hires. This program allows employers to enter information on a potential new hire that is then compared with over 425 million records in the Social Security Administration's database and over 60 million records in the Department of Homeland Security's database. Most inquiries are resolved in seventy-two hours with a ninety-two percent instant response rate; and

Whereas, as of January 2009, over 100,000 employers have registered with E-Verify; and

Whereas, many states, including South Carolina, have relied to their detriment on the continued availability of E-Verify in establishing state level programs to combat illegal immigration. As part of the South Carolina Illegal Immigration Reform Act of 2008, E-Verify is provided as one of the two methods employers must choose to use to verify the work eligibility of new employees. This provision was enacted with the belief that E-Verify or a successor program would be perpetually available for employers to comply with state law; and

Whereas, because the control of immigration is the primary responsibility of the federal government and the E-Verify system depends on access to records that may only be maintained by federal agencies, the states are dependent upon the federal government to maintain this vital component in the struggle to stem the flood of illegal immigration; and

Whereas, the E-Verify program was set to expire in November 2008, but was extended by Concurrent Resolution until March 6, 2009, and this piecemeal approach has eroded confidence in the continued existence of the program; and

Whereas, to ensure the continued reliance on the availability of the E-Verify program by state governments and employers alike to continue and develop effective strategies to combat illegal immigration, it is vitally necessary for Congress to make this program permanent. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly request that the United States Congress take immediate action to make the E-Verify Program permanent and provide the funding and resources necessary to ensure its continued effectiveness.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the members of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.

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