Dave Camp: “We think it is important to extend unemployment benefits, and that's what this bill does; but we do it with commonsense…”

“We think it is important to extend unemployment benefits, and that's what this bill does; but we do it with commonsense reforms, reforms that will help those who are unemployed get not just a paycheck from the government, but get a job and get a paycheck from the private sector. {time} 1640 These commonsense reforms are things like requiring unemployment insurance recipients to search for work and, if they don't have a GED, to get a GED. But we have a commonsense exception provision so that if you're an older worker and you've been a pipe fitter for 30 years, well, obviously, a GED isn't going to help you in your job search. But for those who are younger and who don't have the skills they need, it's clear that if you have that certificate, your chances of losing your job are much less. And, third, we think they should participate in services to get them reemployed. Those are important. States need more flexibility in this area to get waivers from the Federal Government so they can enter in reemployment programs. There are many ideas in the States out there. We aren't mandating this from Washington. We want the States to be the laboratories of invention here. We also think it's important to allow States to screen applicants for drugs. There's been a 1960s Department of Labor ruling that says States can't even look at this area.…”