Republicans in the U.S. Senate want the long-term unemployed to volunteer for 20 hours a week in order to receive unemployment insurance. A bill introduced Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) would also require claimants drawing benefits six months or longer to search for work at least 20 hours a week.
Senator Burr believes that engagement in volunteer service will encourage unemployed workers to maintain job skills, marketability, and a sense of self-worth while providing for the betterment of their communities. He further believes that the active job search requirement will enhance the integrity of the unemployment system and its ability to identify and serve those most in need.
Republicans on the negotiating committee are already pushing for a host of unemployment reforms, including allowing states to drug test workers applying for benefits and denying aid to people who don't have high school diplomas. Seventeen other senate Republicans signed on to the bill.
Several state legislatures have mulled proposals to require people receiving unemployment benefits to do volunteer work. At least a dozen have pushed drug testing for the jobless. Federal law says qualified unemployment claimants can only be denied benefits for fraud or reasons related to their job loss and this proposal would change that.
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