Congressmen push for bill that would create jobs, extend unemployment benefits

Reps. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) and Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) renewed on Monday their call for support of legislation that would create jobs and extend the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program.

Dent and Meadows introduced the Generating Real Opportunities for Workers and Transitional Help Act in January. The measure would extend the EUC program that expired in December, limit eligibility and take additional steps that are intended to create jobs

“The GROWTH Act provides for a full year retroactive extension of tier one of EUC (while) responsibly restructuring the program to 14 weeks of federal benefits on top of the existing 26 weeks of state unemployment compensation for a combined total of 10 months,” Dent and Meadows said. “This approach prudently continues the practice of scaling back the number of weeks available under the federal EUC as unemployment rates gradually decline. At the height of the recession, combined state and federal EUC benefits extended for nearly two years….”

The Keystone XL oil pipeline would also be approved under the GROWTH Act. Once construction begins, it’s estimated the project would create 42,000 jobs.

The bill would also repeal the Affordable Care Act’s medical device tax, which could lead to the retention of 43,000 manufacturing jobs. It would also restore the 40-hour standard for full-time employment rather than the 30-hour workweek outlined in the ACA.

“This is both a responsible and conservative solution, which highlights the need for policies to spur real economic recovery while assisting families who are struggling through difficult times,” Dent and Meadows said.

On April 7, the Senate approved a bill that would extend EUC until May 31.