Keep Stimulus Jobs for Americans

            We expressed concern in a previous blog that many infrastructure construction jobs in President Obama’s stimulus package could go to illegal aliens instead of unemployed Americans. This indeed could be the case. The version of the bill passed by the House aims to prevent hiring of illegals by requiring the firms contracted under the program to use the federal E-Verify system, which allows employers to check the legal status of employees against federal records. The Senate version, however, does not have this provision. 

            If the Senate version becomes law, says a recent study by Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation, employment of illegal aliens will be substantial. As Rector notes, “About one out of seven (or 15 percent) of workers employed in construction in the U.S. is an illegal immigrant. Unless strong mechanisms are put in place to prevent the hiring of illegal immigrants, it is reasonable to expect that a similar proportion of workers hired for construction projects under the stimulus bill would be in the country illegally.”

            There is no excuse to be hiring illegal residents when increasing numbers of Americans are out of work. The official unemployment rate has climbed to 7.6 percent, more than 11 million people unemployed. But, according to Labor Department figures, if people who have stopped looking for work and those working part-time who want full-time employment were included the unemployment rate would be 13.9 percent. Another worrisome statistic is that 2.6 million of the officially unemployed have been out of work for six months or more—the largest number of long-term unemployed since 1983.

            Our senators need to hear from citizens loud and clear: Include the E-Verify in the final version of the stimulus bill. Make your voice heard: Call the Capitol Hill Switchboard, and have the operator connect you with the office of one of your senators. Then call again to reach your other senator’s office. The toll free number is 1-800-828-0498. If that number is not in service, call (202) 224-3121.