Representing Wisconsin State Assembly District 93

The unemployment insurance (UI) program was created in order to help Wisconsinites who have lost their job through no fault of their own receive some assistance while they apply for and transition to a new job. Since the pandemic, it has become clear that the UI program has strayed from this core mission under the current administration. The UI program needs to be positively reformed so that it can better accomplish its original purpose— to help people find a rewarding, family-supporting job in our state.

That is why I recently joined Sen. Roth and Rep. Penterman in introducing the Reemployment Assistance Act. As the state continues to battle the current workforce shortage, we need to make sure that all of our state's benefit programs provide the necessary tools for people to successfully seek reemployment. This legislation makes various changes to Wisconsin’s UI program and focuses on putting a greater emphasis on workforce training by providing individuals with a customized employment plan that gives unemployed Wisconsinites more direction for their job searches and transition period as a whole.

This legislation mirrors ideas implemented by other states that have successfully incorporated reemployment supports into their UI programs. In a study by the U.S. Department of Labor, claimants who participated in reemployment assessments found employment faster and earned more money in the long run. Knowing this, our bill puts a greater emphasis on these reemployment assessment services for those in UI.

Additionally, this bill will help people find customized jobs based on their unique skill sets._ After someone uploads their resume on_www.JobCenterofWisconsin. com, they will get weekly customized job opportunities in their area based on skills included on their resume. This bill also changes how people receive their UI payment by rewarding those who find part-time work. This helps businesses access additional labor while keeping those on UI attached to the labor market.

Furthermore, this piece of legislation provides an incentive for employers to hire those who recently had their UI extensions end. This includes the 40,000 people in Wisconsin, some of whom have been out of the workforce for over 70 weeks. The additional funding for employers can be used to help cover the costs of additional training people might need, or to help remove a barrier that is keeping someone from their job.

Wisconsin has a critical workforce crisis right now and we need to make sure that we do everything we can to get people off of the labor market sidelines and into employment as quickly as possible. With more jobs right now in Wisconsin than before the pandemic started, we need to take this opportunity to reform the existing unemployment insurance program in our state, which has failed under the leadership of the current governor, and help those folks get the workforce support they need to land their next career as quickly as possible so they can support their families and fulfill their dreams and aspirations.