Walorski, LaHood bill puts unemployed back to work

U.S. Reps. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) and Darin LaHood (R-IL) introduced legislation to extend reemployment services and eligibility assessments to all Americans making claims for unemployment benefits.

“As vaccines get us closer to defeating COVID-19, now is the time to rebuild our economy and reconnect out-of-work Americans with jobs,” Rep. Walorski said.

“April’s jobs report underscores the need to help Americans get off the sidelines and return to work,” said Rep. LaHood.

The U.S. Department of Labor awards annual Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment grants to states and territories providing individual reemployment services for Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants, giving workers who might otherwise struggle to find new jobs the necessary tools to get back to work and reduce the number of weeks that UI claimants receive unemployment benefits, according to information provided by the lawmakers’ offices.

Under current law, however, states may only use the federal grants to assist workers who are “most likely to exhaust their unemployment benefits,” a restriction that prevents many unemployed workers from getting assistance, the information says.

The restriction would be removed under the Building on Reemployment Improvements to Deliver Good Employment (BRIDGE) for Workers Act, H.R. 3154, which Rep. LaHood sponsored on May 12 with original cosponsor Rep. Walorski.

“I am proud to again join Congresswoman Walorski on this effort that will prepare individuals to return to work and strengthen our labor force,” Rep. LaHood said last week.

If enacted, H.R. 3154 would give states more flexibility “to focus on the individual needs of unemployed workers to help them get back into the workforce,” said Rep. Walorski. 

“By ensuring those receiving jobless benefits are treated like people — and not just numbers on a spreadsheet — we can help them find good jobs more quickly and get our economy back on track,” she said.