COVID–19 Employment Authorization Document Extension Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 6507 To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to automatically extend the period of validity of an alien’s employment authorization during an emer- gency period, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 14, 2020 Ms. MENG (for herself, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. CA´RDENAS, Ms. NORTON, Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. CISNEROS, Ms. TITUS, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. DEGETTE, Ms. SCHA- KOWSKY, Ms. JAYAPAL, and Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia) introduced the fol- lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to automati- cally extend the period of validity of an alien’s employ- ment authorization during an emergency period, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘COVID–19 Employ- 4 ment Authorization Document Extension Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:21 Apr 21, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6507.IH H6507 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 6507 IH SEC. 2. EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION EXTENSION. 1 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Sec- 2 retary of Homeland Security shall automatically extend 3 the validity of an alien’s employment authorization for an 4 alien with an employment authorization document that is 5 valid on the date on which an emergency period (as such 6 term is defined in section 1135(g) of the Social Security 7 Act (42 U.S.C. 1320b–5(g))) based on a public health 8 emergency begins, for a period that expires not earlier 9 than the date that is one year after the date on which 10 the emergency period ends. 11 SEC. 3. RETROACTIVE APPLICATION TO COVID-19 EMER- 12 GENCY PERIOD. 13 The requirement under section 2 shall apply with re- 14 spect to any alien who had a valid employment authoriza- 15 tion document on January 31, 2020, and the employment 16 authorization for each such alien shall be extended in ac- 17 cordance with such section based on the date on which 18 the emergency period related to the COVID-19 public 19 health emergency ends. 20 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:21 Apr 21, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H6507.IH H6507 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS