Congressman Dan Kildee Continues to Push for Unemployment Benefits Extension

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee continues to push for an extension on unemployment benefits with the help of other legislators. 

Kildee, D-Flint Township, recently sent a letter to the incoming House Majority Leader, Kevin McCarthy, requesting a meeting to discuss a way to immediately extend emergency unemployment insurance for the 3.1 million Americans who have been cut off from their benefits since Congress failed to renew them last December.

The letter also asks McCarthy to use his new leadership position with the House Republican Conference to immediately schedule a vote to extend the unemployment benefits for those who have lost their benefits due to congressional inaction. Unless Congress renews emergency unemployment insurance, more than five million Americans will lose their benefits by the end of the year, according to a press release.

Before writing the letter, Kildee joined with Republican Frank LoBiondo to introduce new bipartisan legislation to extend unemployment insurance benefits for the long-term unemployed. 

"I think there's been some movement within the Republicans on this, so we have done this as a bipartisan bill. We introduced this with four Democrats and four Republicans," Kildee said in an interview with The Flint Journal. "The goal is this: Let's not make this a partisan political question. ... That's really the most significant thing."

Both the House and Senate bills would strengthen re-employment and eligibility assessment and Re-Employment Services programs while ensuring individuals receiving emergency unemployment compensation are eligible for enhanced, personalized assessments and referrals to reemployment services when they begin their 27th week of unemployment (Tier I) and 55th week of unemployment (Tier III). The legislation is also fully paid for, according to a release.

"We have all seen that this body can do great things when we come together and work towards a common goal," the letter states. "It is within all of our interests and our country's economic interest that we come together now and work on finding a responsible and real solution to this problem. We urge you to seize this opportunity as the new Majority Leader to set a new tone in Congress and show that this body can still accomplish great things and tackle the toughest issues when we work together."