Brabec sponsors bill as part of package to increase weekly unemployment relief, extend assistance to 26 weeks, among other reforms
LANSING, Mich., Feb. 25, 2021 — State Rep. Felicia Brabec (D-Pittsfield) introduced House Bill 4336 today as part of House Democrats’ Hardworking Michiganders Recovery Plan, a package that would provide much needed support for Michiganders and help make sure no worker is left behind during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is long past time for our state to make changes to ensure we are supporting hardworking Michigan families who have fallen on tough times,” Brabec said. “Michigan’s current weekly unemployment benefit amount is among the lowest in the country and leaves countless families struggling to pay their bills or put food on the table. We have to do better, and this package is a monumental step in the right direction.”
HB 4336 would increase the weekly benefit amount to 6.1% of a worker’s highest quarter earnings, up from the current rate of 4.1%.
Other measures in the package include:
- Increasing the weekly maximum for unemployment support from $362 to $593, and one year later restores indexing this figure to 58% of the state average weekly wage annually.
- Restoring the number of benefit weeks from 20 weeks to 26 weeks, reversing the reduction to 20 weeks passed by legislative Republicans in 2012.
Brabec joined in calling for legislative Republicans to vote on the package.
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