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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. John Galloway
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Galloway continues E-Verify fight
HARRISBURG, Oct. 3 – State Rep. John Galloway, D-Bucks, expressed disappointment that the House Republicans continue to block his attempts to protect Pennsylvania jobs in the construction industry.
Today, along party lines, Republicans in the Labor and Industry Committee voted down six more attempts to bring to a vote Galloway's proposal to require contractors to verify the Social Security numbers of current and prospective employees through the federal E-Verify program. Six amendments were tied to other bills in the committee, and they were all defeated.
"Once again, the corporate bottom line beats down working wages, thanks to the Republicans," Galloway said. "By defeating eVerify again, the probability of illegal workers taking the construction jobs goes up. And illegal workers in the job market push salaries down for everybody."
E-Verify is a free online system by which employers can quickly determine if potential employees are eligible to work in the United States.
Galloway introduced H.B. 379 and H.B. 380 early this year. Both bills dealt with E-Verify reporting procedures. The bills were referred to the House State Government Committee and House Labor and Industry Committee, respectively. Neither committee has acted on the bills.
"I refuse to give up this fight to protect Pennsylvania workers and wages, no matter how difficult the majority party tries to make this. It is the right thing to do," Galloway said.
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