Americans are rightly demanding that we secure our southern borders and hold employers accountable for hiring workers that are here illegally. U.S. taxpayers have shouldered the burden of illegal immigrants for too long.

The current E-Verify program is voluntary, enabling employers to verify the name, social security number, and alien identification number (for non-citizens) of newly hired employees. Every state in the nation has employers using this program and twelve states mandate its use for both public and private employers.

The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act passed the House with my support on June 24, 2009. It extends E-Verify funding for two years until 2011. It is now up to the Senate to act.