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Kustoff Co-Sponsors Legislation to Help Local Businesses Rebuild Their Workforce

June 3, 2020

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. David Kustoff (TN-08), signed on as a co-sponsor to the Reopening America by Supporting Workers and Businesses Act of 2020. This bill will help local businesses rebuild their workforce by turning the $600 per week unemployment benefit into a back-to-work bonus totaling $1,200. This will incentivize workers and help accelerate our economic recovery.

"It is time to get Americans back to work and rebuild our economy. This bill will turn unemployment benefits into a bonus incentive, encouraging those on unemployment to reenter the workforce. I'm proud to lend my support to this commonsense approach," said Rep. Kustoff

Background:

Time limited back-to-work bonuses: Allow workers to keep up to two weeks of the supplemental federal unemployment benefits after accepting a job, comparable to a $1,200 hiring bonus. The bonus would be available a week after the date of enactment and end July 31, 2020.

Return to work reporting: Strengthen program integrity by ensuring employers can report job refusals and that states provide clear notice to unemployment claimants about return to work obligations and good cause exceptions.

Relief for non-profits: The CARES Act provided additional relief for reimbursable employers, such as non-profits, to help offset the costs of unemployment benefits by 50%. Non- profits provide critical supports to low-income families and many are facing challenges reopening. This clarifies that non-profits do not have to pay the full amount and wait for reimbursement. Instead, states can reduce the amount owed up-front.