LANSING — House Democrats unveiled a plan today to strengthen unemployment protections and restore benefits, allowing Michiganders to focus on finding a new job without worrying about how they’re going to pay bills or put food on the table. The package of bills focuses on improving the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) system so it can handle a forecasted recession, ensuring accountability for employers not paying their UIA tax, and making whole those falsely accused of fraud. In response, state Rep. Bill Sowerby (D-Clinton Township), whose House Bill 4896 would extend the statute of limitations for individuals improperly accused of fraud to bring cases against the state, issued the following statement:

“The false fraud accusations made against thousands of Michiganders truly ruined the lives of these out of work people. The current statute of limitations prevents these Michiganders who were wrongfully accused of fraud from being able to seek relief from the state when those accusations were found to be false. We should be doing all we can to ensure families in these circumstances are made whole and are free to pursue what they are owed.”

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