No: 108-12
Date: November 24, 2003

House Passes S. 1685, the Basic Pilot Program
Extension and Expansion Act of 2003

On November 19, 2003, the House passed by unanimous consent S. 1685, the Basic Pilot Program Extension and Expansion Act of 2003. The Senate passed the bill by unanimous consent on November 12, 2003. The House action clears the bill for the President.

S. 1685 would extend and expand the pilot programs for employment eligibility verification instituted by Public Law 104-208, which included the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. S. 1685 would:

  • Extend the operation of the pilot programs for an additional 5 years (to a total of 11 years)
  • Expand the operation of the pilot programs to all fifty States not later than December 1, 2004. This bill would provide that employers in all States must be able to participate in the pilot program.

In addition, the bill would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to complete and submit a report to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House and Senate not later than June 1, 2004 describing any additional actions the Secretary need take before undertaking the expansion of the program.