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[Congressional Record: November 21, 2003 (Extensions)]
[Page E2367]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr21no03-15]
BASIC PILOT PROGRAM EXTENSION AND EXPANSION ACT OF 2003
______
speech of
HON. MARK UDALL
of colorado
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S.
1685, the Basic Pilot Extension Act of 2003.
The Basic Pilot Verification program was created in 1997 to assist
employers in verifying the eligibility of prospective employees to work
in the United States Currently the program is only available to
employers in six States. Recently I voted against a bill to expand and
extend the program, H.R. 2359, because I thought an expansion of this
program deserved more debate and allowance for amendments to fix some
of the more problematic parts of the bill.
The Senate-passed measure that we are considering today, S. 1685, is
an improvement on the House bill.
Unlike the House bill, this bill does not open up access to the
databases of the Homeland Security Department and the Social Security
Administration to other Federal agencies or to State and local
government agencies. I had grave concerns about the infringement of
civil liberties in the House bill, which would have permitted
widespread sharing of employee information. I am also pleased that
concerns already identified by the Department of Homeland Security
about the Basic Pilot program are being addressed. I still have
apprehensions that the data used in this program is not always up-to-
date or accurate, specifically in regard to the visa status of
employees. However, I am hopeful that the Homeland Security Department
report required under this legislation will address these concerns so
that they can be resolved by the time the program is expanded to all
fifty states.
The Basic Pilot Verifications program provides an efficient and
effective method for ensuring that employers are hiring eligible
employees. I hope that through the extension and expansion provided for
in this bill, this program will provide accurate information about
prospective employees and continue to address the needs of American
employers.
____________________
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