Today, a variety of associations and employer groups sent a letter in support of the reforms to the unemployment insurance program (UI) contained in H.R. 3630, The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act.  

Specifically, the letter notes that the reforms will “reduce the duration of unemployment, assist individuals in returning to work and assure program integrity,” and that “program improvements provided for regular UI claimants are available for long term unemployed workers and expands the range of services to be provided for them, including labor market and career information, skills assessment, and eligibility reviews.”  The full letter can be read below.

Dear Speaker Boehner, Leader Pelosi, Leader Reid and Leader McConnell:

We are writing in support of the reforms in unemployment compensation included in HR 3630, the “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011”.

HR 3630 includes a series of positive unemployment insurance (UI) program improvements to reduce the duration of unemployment, assist individuals in returning to work and assure program integrity.

The bill clearly codifies the fundamental provisions of the UI program that individuals must be able to work, available for work and actively seeking work as a condition of being paid unemployment compensation and assures that unemployed workers are registered for and provided improved reemployment services to assist them in returning to work.

The proposed legislation permits up to 10 states a year to conduct demonstration projects to expedite the reemployment of individuals and improve the effectiveness of states in carrying out reemployment initiatives. It also improves UI program integrity by using effective benefit offsets to more efficiently collect overpayments to improve the health of state and federal unemployment trust funds.

Recognizing the need to address the needs of unemployed workers who have been unemployed for extended periods, the bill assures that program improvements provided for regular UI claimants are available for long term unemployed workers and expands the range of services to be provided for them, including labor market and career information, skills assessment, and eligibility reviews.

We urge your support of these important UI reforms contained in HR 3630.

American Bakers Association            
American Staffing Association
Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce
Associated Industries of Arkansas        
Associated Industries of Florida            
Associated Industries of Massachusetts
Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry
Connecticut Business and Industry Association
Georgia Association of Manufacturers
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
Indiana Chamber of Commerce
Indiana Manufacturers Association
Kansas Chamber of Commerce
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Michigan Chamber of Commerce
Missouri Association of Manufacturers
National Federation of Independent Business
New Jersey Business and Industry Association
North Carolina Chamber of Commerce
Ohio Chamber of Commerce
The Unemployment Services Trust
UWC – Strategic Services
Washington State Hospital Association