Tell Gov. Wolf to Veto E-Verify!

ACTION DEADLINE: Friday, Oct. 4, 2019

Last week the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed “The Construction Industry Employee Verification Act” HB 1170, which will mandate the use of E-verify in the construction industry, and sent the bill to Governor Wolf to sign.

From Pittsburgh to Scranton, immigrants and refugee construction workers are part of Pennsylvania’s growing workforce, and are the backbone of Pennsylvania’s agricultural sector, which relies heavily on immigrant labor. These workers provide for their families, communities, and are boosting Pennsylvania’s economic growth. Although E-Verify is an accurate program, due to errors in the government databases it relies on, the system sometimes incorrectly identifies U.S. Citizen and work-authorized immigrants as lacking work authorization. HB1170 will likely result in 1,300 construction workers losing their jobs when it goes into effect. Mandating the use of E-Verify also places yet another burden on businesses, especially small business owners, who must shoulder the additional cost and time required to operate E-Verify, placing additional hardships to find, hire, and retain needed workers.

1. Send a letter to Wolf! Copy & Paste Letter Here to email:  https://www.governor.pa.gov/contact/ 

2. Make a call! Gov. Wolf’s Office: 717-787-2500

Sample text: Hello, my name is ________ and I oppose The Construction Industry Employee Verification Act HB1170, mandating the use of E-Verify in the construction industry. If signed into law, this bill will harm the economy, workers, and will not address the true problems in the construction industry. In this current political climate, E-verify will perpetuate fear and distrust within our communities. We need public policy that creates economic opportunity for every resident of Pennsylvania and pushes back against the hate and attacks on immigrants and people of color. We urge you to veto HB1170, and any other bill that mandates the use of E-Verify in Pennsylvania

3. Share via social media!

Sample Text: The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed an E-verify bill that is anti-immigrant and anti-worker. The Construction Industry Employee Verification Act HB1170 will harm the economy and workers. Stop the Hate by asking Governor Wolf to veto this bill now! Hashtag: #StoptheHate #vetohate

4. Sign a Petition!

• Workers call on Gov. Wolf to Veto HB1170 (sponsored by the Movement of Immigrant Leaders in PA)
• Stop E-Verify in PA! (sponsored by Make the Road Pennsylvania)