HARRISBURG - A bill to require contractors on public construction projects in Pennsylvania to verify the Social Security numbers of their employees is on its way to the House floor.

The bill, aimed at keeping illegal immigrants out of such projects, was unanimously endorsed Wednesday by the House Labor and Industry Committee. A similar bill was considered two years ago, but went nowhere.

The measure would require contractors on any state or local project costing at least $25,000 to use existing federal programs to verify that all their workers have valid Social Security numbers. Employers who fail to make the checks could be barred from future projects.

The sponsor, Democratic Rep. John Galloway of Bucks County, said the bill would help preserve good-paying construction jobs for those who are entitled to them.