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H.R. 3711: Legal Workforce Act

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H.R. 3711: Legal Workforce Act

115th Congress · introduced 2017-09-08 · Immigration · Latest: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 10.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2017-09-08 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 10. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Legal Workforce Act

Plain summary

Legal Workforce Act This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish an employment eligibility verification system (EEVS), patterned after the E-Verify system. An employer shall attest, during the verification period and under penalty of perjury, that the employer has verified that an individual is not an unauthorized alien. An individual shall 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. The bill establishes a phased-in EEVS participation deadline for different categories of employers, including agricultural employers. The bill requires reverification of certain groups of workers who have not been verified under E-verify. An employer may voluntarily reverify employees. Employment recruitment and referral are included within the scope of EEVS. The bill 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. DHS shall establish programs to: (1) block the use of misused social security numbers, (2) suspend or limit the use of social security account numbers of identity fraud victims, and (3) permit parents or legal guardians to suspend or limit the use of a minor's social security account number or other identifying information. DHS shall establish at least two Identity Authentication Employment Eligibility Verification pilot programs using distinct technologies to provide employers with identity authentication and employment verification of enrolled new employees.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Legal Workforce Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] · 54 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Ken Calvert (R-CA), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Daniel Webster (R-FL), John R. Carter (R-TX), Warren Davidson (R-OH), Mike Bost (R-IL), Scott Perry (R-PA), Andy Harris (R-MD), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Brian Babin (R-TX), Jim Banks (R-IN), Neal P. Dunn (R-FL), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Tom Cole (R-OK), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA), Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Randy K. Weber, Sr. (R-TX), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)
Authorization
A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities
Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong115-hr3711 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115