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Higher Wages and Mandatory E-Verify Employment Verification

This act aims to gradually increase the federal minimum wage in the U.S. and make the E-Verify system mandatory for all employers. This means higher earnings for many workers, but also new obligations for businesses regarding verifying employment legality, intended to curb unauthorized employment.
Key points
The minimum wage will gradually increase, reaching $10 per hour for most businesses after 3 years, and then be adjusted for inflation every two years.
All employers will be required to use the E-Verify system to check if new hires are legally authorized to work in the U.S.
Companies failing to use E-Verify or employing unauthorized individuals may face significantly higher financial penalties and even debarment from federal contracts.
The E-Verify system will be enhanced to protect personal data and allow individuals to self-check their employment eligibility and report fraud.
States that do not cooperate in providing data to E-Verify may lose access to certain federal economic and community development grants.
article Official text account_balance Process page
Expired
Citizen Poll
No votes cast
Additional Information
Print number: 117_S_478
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR]
Process start date: 2021-02-25
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Higher Wages for American Workers Act of 2021

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_S_478.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-02-25.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • The minimum wage will gradually increase, reaching $10 per hour for most businesses after 3 years, and then be adjusted for inflation every two years.
  • All employers will be required to use the E-Verify system to check if new hires are legally authorized to work in the U.S.
  • Companies failing to use E-Verify or employing unauthorized individuals may face significantly higher financial penalties and even debarment from federal contracts.
  • The E-Verify system will be enhanced to protect personal data and allow individuals to self-check their employment eligibility and report fraud.
  • States that do not cooperate in providing data to E-Verify may lose access to certain federal economic and community development grants.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-29.

CATEGORIES

Labor Migration Economy