Jack Kingston: “Thank you. I would like to call States' attention to drug screening assessments approved by the National Institutes of…”

“Thank you. I would like to call States' attention to drug screening assessments approved by the National Institutes of Health that identify individuals as having a high probability of drug use. Under the bill I introduced, individuals deemed by those assessments to be high risk would be required to complete and pass a drug test in order to receive benefits. General tax dollars help fund payments after 26 weeks. So people who are unemployed should be looking for a job and should not become voluntarily ineligible by taking illegal drugs. In this tough budgetary environment, we must maximize tax dollar spending efficiently and effectively. I appreciate your commitment to hold a hearing on this issue no later than the spring, and I thank you for pointing toward further action.”