WASHINGTON – In order to help local businesses rebuild their workforce quickly, Congressman Tom Rice (R-S.C.) and fellow members of the House Committee on Ways and Means introduced the Reopening America by Supporting Workers and Businesses Act of 2021. The bill, led by Ways and Means Republican Leader Kevin Brady (R-TX), turns enhanced unemployment benefits into a back-to-work bonus that will provide a bump to workers and help accelerate our economic recovery.

“Job openings are at a record high, yet businesses are struggling to recruit employees. I know this is the case in the 7^th District. Businesses shouldn’t be competing with unemployment benefits in order to get employees working again,” said Congressman Rice. “I’m proud to cosponsor this legislation which will allow a bonus to be provided to unemployed workers upon accepting a job offer. This will encourage Americans to get back to work quickly, help businesses recover, and get the economy moving again.”

Main Street businesses want to hire, but enhanced unemployment benefits are discouraging potential applicants from seeking work. The additional $300/week in benefits, provided by the American Rescue Plan Act, means as many as 37% of workers receive more on unemployment than their paycheck, creating a disincentive to return to work. The National Federation of Independent Businesses Research Center said that job openings in February reached an all-time record high as 40% of small firms have an open position that they aren’t able to currently fill.

Read more about the Reopening America by Supporting Workers and Businesses Act of 2021 here.

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