WASHINGTON, D.C. - Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Michael R. McNulty (D-NY), and Ranking Member Sam Johnson (R-TX), applauded the inclusion of language to protect Social Security beneficiaries in H.R. 6633, a bill to extend the basic pilot employment eligibility confirmation system (known as "E-Verify"), which allows employers to check newly-hired employees` authorization to work under immigration law.
Chairman McNulty and Ranking Member Johnson successfully secured provisions in the bill guaranteeing that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will pay the Social Security Administration (SSA)`s costs for the key role that SSA plays in E-Verify, as is required by current law. This ensures that SSA`s own funds are fully available to serve Social Security and SSI beneficiaries.
"We have worked since the start of this Congress to provide needed funding for the Social Security Administration to address unacceptable backlogs in disability hearings and the decline in service to our constituents," said Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Michael R. McNulty (D-NY). "We would not be responsible stewards of Social Security if we allowed our efforts to be undone by rapidly growing costs related to immigration enforcement, which is not the responsibility of the Social Security Administration."
"This legislation strikes the proper balance between extending this needed program and ensuring seniors, people with disabilities, and their families receive the support they have earned," said Social Security Subcommittee Ranking Member Sam Johnson (R-TX). "Congress is finally recognizing Social Security’s essential role in worksite enforcement by making sure the agency is paid for their hard work. Today’s bill is a step in the right direction but this Congress must get to work on real immigration reform."
The bill ensures that the agencies abide by the Social Security Act, which protects Social Security program funds from being used for non-Social Security purposes. DHS is required to fully reimburse SSA for this work, but this has not always happened. For instance, the reimbursement agreement for Fiscal Year 2006 was just signed last week. Thus, SSA has been forced to pay for E-Verify related work with funds that are supposed to be dedicated to SSA`s core mission of administering Social Security benefits.
Given the imminent spike in retirement claims by the Baby Boom generation, and the backlog in hearings for disability claims, SSA cannot afford to divert already scarce resources away from serving seniors, people with disabilities and survivors.
H.R. 6633 passed the House by an overwhelming vote of 407-2.
"I am confident that the vote today in the House impresses upon our colleagues in the Senate that Social Security beneficiaries must be protected in any E-Verify reauthorization legislation they consider," concluded Chairman McNulty.
