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HR 2164 112th Congress House

Legal Workforce Act

Official title: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to make mandatory and permanent requirements relating to use of an electronic employment eligibility verification system, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 28, 2011 See on congress.gov
Immigration Border security and unlawful immigrationEmployee hiringFederal preemptionForeign labor
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Fraud offenses and financial crimesGovernment information and archivesImmigration status and proceduresInternet and video servicesInternet, web applications, social mediaMigrant, seasonal, agricultural laborPersonnel recordsPublic contracts and procurementTelephone and wireless communicationVisas and passports
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 23, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
Jun 15, 2011
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jun 14, 2011
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jun 14, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.
Jun 14, 2011
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 23, 2011

Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Legal Workforce Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish an employment eligibility verification system (EEVS), patterned after the E-Verify system. (Eliminates the current paper-based I-9 system.)

Requires an employer to attest, during the verification period and under penalty of perjury, that the employer has verified that an individual is not an unauthorized alien by: (1) obtaining and recording the individual's social security account number, and (2) examining specified documents that establish such individual's identity and employment authorization.

Requires an individual to attest that he or she is a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident, or an alien authorized to work in the United States.

Subjects an individual who knowingly uses the social security number or other identification of another person to fine and/or imprisonment.

Establishes a phased-in EEVS participation deadline (six months to two years) for different categories of employers, including agricultural employers. (Exempts from verification requirements seasonal agricultural workers who return to work for a previous employer.)

Requires reverification of the following workers who have not been verified under E-verify: (1) federal, state, or local government employees; (2) certain employees who require a federal security clearance; and (3) certain employees assigned to work in the United States under a federal or state contract.

Authorizes an employer to voluntarily reverify employees. (Requires any such reverification to be applied to all individuals so employed).

Includes employment recruitment and referral within the scope of EEVS. Requires EEVS use by union halls and nonprofit employment agencies.

Requires EEVS to provide employers with: (1) temporary verification or nonverification within 3 working days of an inquiry; and (2) in the case of nonverification, a final verification or nonverification within 10 working days.

Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) an employer utilizing a good faith defense, (2) preemption of state or local law, (3) employer penalties, and (4) worker remedies for EEVS errors.

Provides for the establishment of programs to: (1) block the use of misused social security numbers, (2) suspend or limit the use of social security numbers of victims of identity fraud, and (3) block the use of the social security numbers of certain aliens who are under order of removal, voluntarily depart, or have an expired work authorization.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2164: Legal Workforce Act. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-2164/
MLA
"H.R. 2164: Legal Workforce Act." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-2164/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2164, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-2164/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2164: Legal Workforce Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-2164/)
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