Fact of the Week: 06/19/08

Proponents of continuing the status quo in U.S. employment verification have criticized the New Employee Verification Act (NEVA - H.R. 5515) for “reinventing the wheel.”

FACT CHECK:
NEVA builds on trusted systems that exist today, utilizing the same databases that E-Verify does, while addressing the problems that continue to plague the pilot program.

• Under NEVA, employees’ personal information is entered through a system already used by 90% of U.S. employers - each State’s new hire registry - instead of through a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website.  There is no need to register over 7 million employers and no need for U.S. citizens to receive permission to work from a federal law enforcement agency - as required by E-Verify. 
• NEVA establishes database accuracy standards that will be strictly monitored by Congress through ongoing reporting and GAO audits. To address identity theft, NEVA mandates the use of fewer, more secure identity documents, and also includes an optional system for employers to authenticate and safeguard the identity of their employees through government-certified private sector experts.
• Under NEVA, DHS will remain at the helm of enforcing the law, bolstered by increased penalties to address bad actor employers, but will not be allowed to track or collect the work history of American citizens.