LANSING, Mich., Jan. 26, 2022 — Today, state Rep. Terry Sabo (D-Muskegon) spoke on the House floor in support of an amendment to House Bill 5553, a bill to require the Unemployment Insurance Agency to make a determination on a filed claim no later than 10 business days after its receipt under most circumstances. Sabo’s amendment would tie-bar House Bill 5553 to House Bills 4335 and 4334, which would raise the weekly benefit amount for unemployed workers and raise the benefit amount for dependents. House Republicans refused to adopt the amendment. Sabo issued the following statement:
“Inflation has been building for the past 10 years in this country. At the same time, we’ve done nothing to adjust UIA payments to workers to properly reflect that reality. While the Legislature has chosen time and time again to push UIA relief for small businesses, they’ve repeatedly refused to do the same for our workers, many of whom are facing the same challenges. Inflation affects us all, but, for unemployed workers already struggling to make ends meet, times will only get tougher if we don’t take action. These additional bills are necessary to prevent the worst case scenario for Michiganders who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. I’m disappointed that my Republican colleagues once again ignored the interests of the Michigan worker.”