House passes bill extending E-Verify, other immigration programs

The House voted Wednesday in favor of legislation that would extend for three years the E-Verify citizenship program, which lets companies determine whether potential hires are eligible to work in the United States.

Members approved the bill, S. 3245, in a 412-3 vote. The vote sends the bill to the White House for President Obama's signature, as it was approved by the Senate in August.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) said the E-Verify program is used by nearly 400,000 U.S. companies to determine worker eligibility. He also said keeping E-Verify around would help ensure that jobs are given to the 23 million Americans still looking for work.

The bill would also extend an investor visa program, under which 10,000 immigrants are given visas when they invest at least $500,000 in the United States in a way that creates at least 10 jobs.

Additionally, it would extend the Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Program, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), which helps bring doctors to the United States under exchange programs. These doctors are sent to medically underserved areas.

And, it would extend the Special Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Program.

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