Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.) introduced legislation on Tuesday that requires private companies to screen their employees through an electronic verification system before they can work on the Capitol campus.

[IMGCAP(1)]Hundreds of private companies each year receive contracts for jobs for the legislative branch. Employees who work for those companies are screened through a paper system, which Gallegly’s office argues is outdated and “proven to be rife with abuse and fraud.”

But there is an easy way to solve the problem, Gallegly said. All federal employees are screened through the E-Verify system, which is administered by the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security. It just makes sense that private workers get screened through that system as well, Gallegly said.

“This program is free to use, highly accurate and removes any uncertainty employers go through during the document review process,” Gallegly said. “Without this requirement it is only a matter of time before a serious disaster occurs.”

The legislation, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), was referred to the House Administration Committee.

“We know the Capitol — which is visited by millions of American every year — is a prime terrorist target,” Gallegly added. “This is a simple way to close one loophole in the Capitol’s security.”

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