Political Quotes

“Mr. President, today, I am introducing the Strengthening UI for Coronavirus Impacted Workers and Students Act. For the 30 million American unemployed workers, the enhanced jobless benefits created in the CARES Act are a lifeline. However, the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, which provides a $600-per-week benefit on top of an individual's regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits are set to expire on July 31, 2020. Arbitrarily cutting these benefits off in the midst of an ongoing pandemic could make a desperate situation worse for individuals and harm the economy. Moreover, if these workers are prematurely pushed back into unsafe work environments, it will ultimately harm families, businesses, and communities. That is why my new legislation seeks to expand and enhance the unemployment insurance of the CARES Act. Specifically, this bill would continue to offer out-of-work Americans the $600-per-week additional benefit through the end of the year and make it retroactive to the date of the coronavirus pandemic disaster declaration date. This legislation would also exempt these pandemic-specific benefits from being factored into eligibility for means-tested programs, such as Section 8 housing, SNAP, TANF, and WIC. Furthermore, it would create a $300 Federal benefit for recent college graduates, students, and others who are willing and able to work absent COVID-19. but who do not have recent work history.…”