WASHINGTON Federal contractors would be required to use a government verification program to confirm that their employees have a legal right to work in the United States under legislation filed Thursday by Rep. Elton Gallegly.

Gallegly, R-Simi Valley, said he decided to pursue the bill in light of reports that some contractors have been hiring undocumented employees to work on federal projects, such as construction work on military bases or rebuilding New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

In one of the most widely publicized cases, a Southern California company hired to build part of a 14-mile border fence in the late 1990s agreed to pay a $4.7 million fine in December for hiring undocumented workers.

"I don't support using federal money to help perpetuate illegal activities," Gallegly said.

Under Gallegly's bill, federal contractors would have to verify their employees' work eligibility status by using a program administered by the Social Security Administration.

The verification system, known as the Basic Pilot Program, allows employers to confirm the eligibility of new hires by checking personal information provided by the workers. Names and Social Security numbers are entered into an automated database, which checks to see if they match and are valid.

Federal agencies already are required to verify the eligibility of new workers because of national security concerns. Yet there are no such requirements for federal contractors.

"My contractors' bill will hold federal contractors to the same standard as federal agencies," Gallegly said.

An immigration reform compromise bill that is now before the House and Senate also would require employers to check their employees' work eligibility by using an electronic verification system.

But Gallegly said lawmakers still haven't seen the text of the bill and, as a result, he doesn't know if the legislation would cover federal contractors.

Besides, he said, his bill would probably generate more enthusiasm than the immigration reform compromise, which has been criticized by Democrats and Republicans alike.

"I think there will be tremendous support for it," Gallegly said of his proposal.