[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 60 (Thursday, May 5, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S2743]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HATCH:
  S. 904. A bill to improve jobs, opportunity, benefits, and services 
for unemployed Americans, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Finance.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to announce the introduction 
of a bill that, if enacted, would empower the States to more wisely 
spend the $31 billion in unemployment funds that have been allocated to 
them for the remainder of this year. This bill will allow states to 
avoid job-killing unemployment tax hikes while strengthening the safety 
net program for unemployed workers. I am honored to introduce this 
legislation simultaneously with a bill being introduced today in the 
House by The Honorable Dave Camp, Chairman of the House Ways and Means 
Committee.
  The Jobs, Opportunity, Benefits and Services Act of 2011, or JOBS Act 
for short, is just that. A pro jobs bill that goes to the heart of what 
unemployment benefits are meant to be: not a permanent welfare payment, 
but a bridge to help unemployed workers until they can find a new job. 
A hand up, not a hand out. This bill is sorely needed. Since the 
recession began, 33 States have borrowed $48 billion in Federal funds 
to pay for unemployment benefits. These loans, if gone unpaid, will 
result in increased taxes on employers and job creators. Three States 
already have been forced to do so, and experts predict that 21 
additional States will be required to raise taxes on jobs this year if 
nothing is done.
  The JOBS Act allows states the flexibility to manage their 
unemployment funds to pay benefits, reduce their borrowings, or 
establish programs to help unemployed workers get jobs. The States can 
decide for themselves where their greatest needs lie. Under current 
law, States don't have the flexibility they need to adapt. The Federal 
Government pays for up to 73 weeks of unemployment, an all-time record. 
But not every state needs to spend the money the way Washington 
dictates. For example, North Dakota has only a 3.6 percent rate of 
unemployment, but the unemployed can collect up to 34 weeks of 
unemployment paid for with Federal funds, in addition to the normal 26 
weeks under pre-recession law. This bill would allow States to more 
wisely direct those Federal funds.
  How does the bill work? The $31 billion in Federal funds already 
allocated to the States will be advanced to them and will remain 
available for unemployment benefits or, if the State chooses, some or 
all can be used to repay their loans in order to avoid raising taxes, 
or enact programs that will lead to the rapid reemployment of 
unemployed workers. What this bill will not do is add any new Federal 
spending or reduce the amount of Federal funds a State is already 
scheduled to receive for unemployment insurance or mandate that States 
change the way they use those funds. It is up to the States to decide 
what is best for them and their citizens based on local conditions. 
This bill truly is a ``win, win'' for States, workers and the 
businesses struggling to expand and hire.
  I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.
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