Congress only recently increased funding to help address the backlog of disability claims. and we are working to continue that trend. It will take sustained adequate funding for SSA to meet the challenges of reducing its backlog while keeping pace with growing workloads. SSA plays a significant role in the EVerify pilot program. which is rapidly growing under DHSs direction. There is broad consensus that SSA must be paid for this work. The legislation before us provides essential protections for seniors. people with disabilities. and survivors who need Social Security benefits to meet their daily expenses. It does so by ensuring that DHS and SSA enter into annual agreements that require DHS to pay SSA in full and on a timely basis for its EVerify related expenses. I would like to thank our colleagues on the Judiciary Committee who worked with us to include language in this bill to provide for full and timely payment to SSA for its role under the EVerify program. This is a bipartisan bill. and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of this bill to extend the "basic pilot" program. also known as "EVerify." I wish to thank my friend. the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Social Security