WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the Expedited Access to Reemployment Learning Yields (EARLY) Benefits for Workers Act, which would allow unemployed workers faster access to reemployment services so they can quickly reenter the workforce.
“By getting unemployed Americans the tools they need to quickly return to the workforce, we’re fueling the economy, filling job openings, and supporting businesses,” said Dr. Cassidy.
Background
Employers across many industries are facing serious labor shortages, and too many unemployed Americans are struggling to find suitable work. As artificial intelligence and other technologies change our economy, workers will face greater dislocation. Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) benefits – such as resume assistance, job search planning, and career workshops – are designed to help people get back to work faster. But under current law, states cannot offer RESEA services until after an unemployment insurance (UI) claim is approved. It typically takes weeks to process an initial unemployment claim after workers lose their jobs, meaning most workers do not receive help until they have already been out of work for some time. Today, more than one in three Americans exhaust their UI benefits before finding a new job, and research indicates that the longer a person is unemployed, the more difficult it becomes to reenter the workforce.
The EARLY Benefits for Workers Act would address these issues by allowing states to provide basic reemployment services as soon as a worker applies for unemployment benefits. This will help workers find jobs faster, shortening their unemployment and saving taxpayer dollars.
Casidy was joined by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) in introducing the legislation.
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