Pennsylvanians want fairness — whether it’s at the gas pump, in their tax bill, or on the job site. To achieve this, we must ensure that our laws reflect the needs of our communities. By verifying that workers are legally eligible to work in this country, we protect economic opportunity for American workers and ensure their wages aren’t driven down by unfair competition.

This isn’t a Democrat or Republican problem; it’s a national problem, and it’s hurting workers in our communities. From construction crews in the Lehigh Valley to small businesses in Pittsburgh and the northeast.

Most employers play by the rules. They hire legally, provide training, and treat their workers fairly. But bad actors have been known to use illegal immigrant labor — driving down wages, limiting job opportunities, and providing an unfair edge against businesses that only hire legal workers. The impact is real: a 2022 study estimated that unauthorized workers make up roughly 2.5 percent of Pennsylvania’s workforce, about 150,000 workers - mostly in jobs where pay isn’t keeping up with the cost of living. That’s a lot of unfair competition for local workers.

One of the most effective tools we have to keep the playing field level is E-Verify, a free and fast system run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that lets employers confirm a worker’s legal eligibility in a matter of seconds. Nearly 1.5 million employers use E-Verify nationwide, representing about 20 percent of U.S. companies, and participation grows every year.

Pennsylvania has real experience with this. As a state representative, Ryan Mackenzie authored the law requiring E-Verify in the construction industry. His legislation provided a commonsense model to strengthen workforce integrity without creating unnecessary burdens for job creators.

Building on that success, the House Education and Workforce Committee will soon hold a hearing to examine how to strengthen E-Verify nationally. A recent report from the Government Accountability Office found that about 95,000 businesses contracting with the federal government were enrolled in E-Verify, but federal agencies need to improve monitoring of federal contractor compliance. Strengthening oversight will ensure the system works as intended and that American workers are protected.

That’s why we are working on legislation that does just that: supporting and improving E-Verify so that American workers have the protections they deserve. Rep. Mackenzie’s Day 1, Dollar 1 E-Verify Act requires all federal contractors to use E-Verify, ensuring that taxpayer-funded jobs go to workers who are legally authorized to work in the United States.

There’s broad consensus on this across Pennsylvania — and across America. Employers don’t want to be undercut. Workers don’t want to lose hours or pay. And families can’t afford to be squeezed in an economy where their wages depend on whether someone else cuts corners.

This shouldn’t be a partisan issue. It’s a fairness issue.

Pennsylvanians deserve a workforce system that rewards those who follow the law — not those who skirt it.

As the Education and Workforce Committee looks ahead to its hearing, our commitment is clear: every job in America should be filled by someone who is legally allowed to work here, and every employer who plays by the rules deserves a fair chance to compete.

Pennsylvania helped lead the way once. Now it can help lead the nation.

Tim Walberg is the Education and Workforce Committee Chairman and is currently serving his eighth term in Congress as the representative of southern Michigan. Ryan Mackenzie, Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chairman, represents the 7th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, which covers all of Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon counties and part of Monroe County.