Labor & Employment (Unemployment)

in committee · United States · House Feb 27, 2025

HRES 170: Expressing support for Americas Black workers and affirming the need to pass legislation to reduce inequalities and discrimination in the workforce.

HRES 170 is a non-binding resolution expressing the House's support for Black workers and affirming the need for legislation to address workforce disparities. It highlights specific issues affecting Black workers, including a 3-point higher unemployment rate, 87% of median weekly earnings compared to overall averages, and higher workplace discrimination. The resolution specifically endorses passing four key bills: the PRO Act (labor organizing rights), National Apprenticeship Act, Raise the Wage Act, and Workforce Innovation Act. It does not create new laws but calls for action on these existing legislative proposals to reduce inequalities. The resolution directly affects Black workers across the U.S. workforce, emphasizing their historical and economic contributions.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEndorses PRO Act (labor organizing), Raise the Wage, and National Apprenticeship Act to address workforce disparities, discrimination, and wage gaps affecting Black workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships Employment Discrimination Unemployment

Track

in committee · United States · House Mar 27, 2025

HR 2431: Don't Cut FAA Workers Act of 2025

HR 2431, the "Don't Cut FAA Workers Act of 2025," prohibits the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from implementing mass layoffs for one year following a major aviation accident (defined as an accident causing a fatal injury within 30 days). It defines a "mass layoff" as eliminating 10+ employees at a single FAA location or 250+ employees total across the agency within 90 days. The bill requires the FAA Administrator to notify Congress before any such layoff and allows the agency to proceed only if Congress passes a joint resolution approving it within 60 days. This law directly affects FAA employees and ensures congressional oversight of workforce reductions after major aviation incidents.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPrevents mass layoffs after aviation accidents, protecting FAA workers' job security and rights as defined by the bill's restrictions on employee cuts.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationPrevents FAA workforce reductions after aviation accidents, maintaining safety operations critical to transportation infrastructure and aviation safety standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Airports

Track

in committee · United States · House Sep 10, 2025

HRES 690: Expressing support for the designation of September 2025 as "National Workforce Development Month".

This is a symbolic House resolution (HRES 690) expressing support for designating September 2025 as "National Workforce Development Month." It does not create new laws, funding, or requirements. The resolution acknowledges the importance of workforce development programs - like those under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act - and supports federal initiatives that help workers gain skills, reduce unemployment, and strengthen the economy. It specifically urges recognition of workforce development’s role in job training, economic growth, and supporting workers with barriers to employment.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentResolution explicitly supports workforce development programs under WIOA, aligning with Labor & Employment goals of skill-building and reducing unemployment through symbolic recognition.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workforce Development

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Feb 12, 2026

S 3864: Federal Jobs Guarantee Development Act of 2026

The Federal Jobs Guarantee Development Act of 2026 establishes a 3-year pilot program providing competitive grants to up to 15 eligible entities (such as states, tribes, or rural areas with unemployment at least 150% of the national rate) to create job guarantee programs. These programs must offer jobs to all residents aged 18+ in the service area, with wages meeting or exceeding federal/state minimums, health coverage comparable to federal employee benefits, and mandated paid leave. The bill requires grantees to provide training support, report demographic data, and comply with specific job access standards for individuals with disabilities and criminal records. Funds are limited to new jobs not displacing existing workers, with annual audits to ensure proper use of resources.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates federal grants for job guarantee programs, increasing government spending on public employment initiatives under budget appropriations.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates health coverage comparable to federal employee benefits for all job guarantee participants, directly expanding healthcare access and benefits.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill creates job guarantee with wages ≥ min wage, health coverage, and paid leave, directly advancing worker benefits and employment standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Minimum Wage Paid Leave Unemployment

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Nov 20, 2025

S 3265: Improve and Enhance the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Act

This bill extends and expands the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which helps employers hire from targeted groups like veterans, long-term welfare recipients, and individuals in high-unemployment areas. It extends the program through 2030 (from 2025), increases the credit rate to 50% for certain new hires (up from 40%), adds automatic annual inflation adjustments to key dollar amounts, and expands eligibility to include military spouses and people receiving SNAP benefits without an age limit. Employers hiring from these groups will see higher tax credits for qualifying wages, with new rules specifically for agricultural workers, summer youth employees, and veterans. The changes apply to workers hired after December 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands Work Opportunity Tax Credit with higher rates and broader eligibility, providing tax relief to employers hiring targeted groups, directly strengthening tax incentive programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends WOTC through 2030, increases credit rate to 50%, expands eligibility to military spouses/SNAP recipients - directly enhances employment opportunities for targeted groups95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly includes veterans as a targeted group for WOTC, supporting veteran employment through tax incentives.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Unemployment Veteran Employment

Track

in committee · United States · House Oct 14, 2025

HR 5761: Fair Warning Act of 2025

The Fair Warning Act of 2025 requires employers with 50 or more employees (or $2 million+ annual payroll) to provide 90 days' written notice before site closings or mass layoffs. This notice must include details about the layoff, recall dates, available benefits, and job opportunities at other locations, and must be provided to affected employees, state workforce agencies, and local governments. Exceptions include natural disasters, terrorist attacks, public health emergencies, and situations where new business or financing would be jeopardized by the notice. The bill creates a public database tracking all notices and increases penalties for non-compliance, including liquidated damages equal to 30 days of back pay.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates 90-day notice for layoffs with details on benefits/job opportunities, directly protecting workers' rights and aiding unemployment transition per employment standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Public Employees Unemployment

Track

passed · United States · House Apr 28, 2026

HR 6431: New Opportunities for Business Ownership and Self-Sufficiency Act

This bill modifies state unemployment programs to help job seekers start businesses. It removes the requirement that participants must first exhaust regular unemployment benefits before accessing self-employment assistance. States must now approve business plans or require entrepreneurial training/counseling for participants, who must also certify weekly participation. The bill also raises the cap on program participants from 5% to 10% of unemployed individuals. These changes aim to expand access to business ownership support through state unemployment systems.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands access to self-employment assistance under unemployment programs, removing barriers and increasing participant caps to help job seekers start businesses, advancing worker self-sufficiency.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Unemployment Workers' Compensation Workforce Development

Track

in committee · United States · Senate Jul 16, 2025

S 2312: Unemployment Insurance Modernization and Recession Readiness Act

This bill establishes federal standards for unemployment insurance to increase consistency and support during economic downturns. It sets minimum requirements for benefit duration (26 weeks), wage replacement (75% of earnings), and maximum benefit amounts, while expanding eligibility for individuals separated due to compelling reasons like family care or workplace violence. The bill creates a new Jobseeker Allowance program providing weekly payments to unemployed individuals actively seeking work, with higher payments during periods of elevated unemployment. States would administer these programs with full federal funding for extended benefits and specific administrative support for the new allowance. The changes would take effect for unemployment claims beginning on or after January 1, 2027.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates new government-funded Jobseeker Allowance program, increasing public spending on unemployment benefits (fiscal management element).85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands unemployment benefits with 75% wage replacement, 26-week minimum, and new eligibility for family/workplace issues - directly strengthens worker support during economic downturns.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Gig Economy Labor Standards Unemployment

Track