A bill introduced by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) would extend the E-Verify program through September 2014. The Employee Verification Amendment Act of 2009 (H.R. 2679) would also order a General Accounting Office (GAO) study to determine the cause of errors made by this employment verification system, and its effects on small businesses.

E-Verify is an Internet-based system that allows employers to determine the employment eligibility of current or potential employees and to verify their social security numbers and other identifiers by providing a link to federal databases. Operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in conjunction with the Social Security Administration (SSA), E-Verify is currently a voluntary program. A rule requiring certain federal contractors and subcontractors to use E-Verify was recently delayed for the fourth time until September 8, 2009.

The Employee Verification Amendment Act would also extend the EB-5 Regional Center Pilot and the Special Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Programs, as well as the waiver of the foreign country residence requirement for certain international medical graduates through September 30, 2014.

This bill has been referred to the House Committees on the Judiciary, Education and Labor, and Ways and Means.