A bill introduced this week would debar or suspend contractors that unlawfully employ illegal aliens from federal contracting. The Border Control and Contractor Accountability Act of 2009 (H.R. 1555) authorizes the head of any executive agency awarding a federal contract to debar or suspend the contractor for three years and terminate the contract if it is determined, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the contractor directly employed or had knowledge of a subcontractor’s employment of any worker who is not authorized to work in this country, unless the contractor agrees to fire the employee.

Additionally, this act stipulates that any contractor awarded contracts by the Department of Homeland Security must use the E-Verify employee work authorization verification program.

This bill was referred to the House Committees on Homeland Security and Oversight and Government Reform.