56% of Small Business Owners Support Mandating E-Verify

A survey of small businesses conducted by National Small Business Association found that 56% of small business owners would support a mandatory E-Verify requirement. Only 24% opposed such a mandate. The survey also found that only 5% of small business owners have applied for either the H-1B visa for high-skilled, temporary foreign workers or the H-2B visa for low-skilled, non-agriculture temporary visas.The survey also found that nearly 15% of small business owners believe that a new hire has presented falsified documents to complete the I-9 form, while another 20% say they’re not sure.During the previous Congress. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) introduced a bill that would require the mandatory use of E-Verify for all business in the United States. The bill was passed through the Judiciary Committee, but never made it to the House floor for a vote. Many opponents said it would be to burdensome for small business owners. The National Small Business Association, however, represents 65,000 small businesses across the country.The survey did find that 67% of small business owners would like to see increases in H-1B visas. Fifty-four percent of the small businesses surveyed said they employ employees with degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.Also during the previous Congress, the House of Representatives passed legislation that would increase the number of H-1B visas issued each year, while also ending the Visa Lottery to offset the increases. The Senate failed to consider the bill.For more information, see the Los Angeles Times.