Illinois congressman behind measure designed to get the unemployed back to work

(The Center Square) – An Illinois congressman is behind legislation that aims to get the unemployed back into the workforce.

The U.S. House has passed the Building on Reemployment Improvements to Deliver Good Employment, or BRIDGE for Workers Act. The measure would allow states to use the money for the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessments (REA) program, which is usually reserved for workers who are expected to exhaust their unemployment benefits, to instead use some of the funds for early intervention programs.

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R.-Ill., said his bill will give states more flexibility in administering existing unemployment benefits so that Americans can find a good-paying job.

“The technical correction to clarify that reemployment services provided through these federal grants can be provided to all unemployment insurance claimants, not just those most likely to exhaust their benefits,” said LaHood.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 made the REA program permanent and expanded funding for all states.

The U.S. unemployment rate stands at 4.2%, while Illinois’ unemployment rate is 5.3%, one of the highest in the country.

The average duration of unemployment is just over 19 weeks, and LaHood said the legislation looks to shorten that time.

“This legislation provides the permanent flexibility states need to make reemployment services a successful tool for those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own,” said LaHood. “This really is a bridge to help workers.”

The measure passed the U.S. House and is now being considered by the Senate.