Other Federal Initiatives

These resources include analyses of the latest federal initiatives – favorable and unfavorable -- to reform the UI system.

Unemployment Insurance Modernization Would Benefit Businesses, Workers and Communities (May 2008)

New Federal Initiative Could Deliver $7 billion in Incentive Awards to States that Reform their UI Program (July 2007)

NELP Testifies in Congress on Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act (March 2007)

Innovative State Reforms Shape New National Economic Security Plan for the 21st Century (December 2006)

FY 2007 Bush Administration Budget: Career Advancement Account Gimmick Can't Hide Cuts to Dislocated Worker Programs. The Administration's proposals would cut resources and reduce the effectiveness of employment and training programs for dislocated workers. (February 2006)

Reforming Disaster Unemployment Assistance to Support Families Left Jobless After Hurricane Katrina, Their Employers & The Region's Economy (September 2005)

Disaster Unemployment Assistance: How Families Can Access the Program After Hurricane Katrina. This federally funded program provides temporary financial assistance to individuals unemployed as a result of a major disaster. Importantly, DUA reaches those workers (such as the self-employed) who fail to qualify for regular state unemployment benefits. (September 2005)

Getting Certified for Trade Adjustment Assistance. This manual for unions, workforce agencies, and community groups explains how to file successful petitions for certification under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. The manual's appendix includes a TAA sample petition, supporting documents, and significant forms used by the U.S. Department of Labor in their certification investigations. (August 2005)

The Bush Administration's FY 2006 budget for unemployment insurance and employment services represents a continuation of long-established underfunding of state agencies combined with an accelerated shift toward providing services to jobseekers through Workforce Investment Act one-stop centers. At the same time state agencies are left without enough funds to prevent mistakes, the budget proposes to use several "program integrity" initiatives to collect benefit overpayments and shorten benefit durations. (March 2005)

Setting the Wrong Course: Personal Reemployment Accounts  The ownership society is coming to the Labor Department and working families should be concerned. This short, co-authored with the Economic Policy Institute, outlines how the Bush Administration is continuing to push personal reemployment accounts (PRAs). Newt research shows that the accounts are an empty promises--too small to purchase meaningful training but just large enough to discourage workers from pursuing cost-effective short-term services. (February 2005)

Raiding the Federal Unemployment Trust Funds  These talking points detail the major limitations of a new federal proposal to raid the federal unemployment trusts by authorizing a $9 billion "Reed Act" distribution to the states. (July 2004)

Unemployment Insurance Administrative Financing Reform: The Real Story The Bush Administration, for the third consecutive year, is promoting so-called "reform" of the federal unemployment insurance (UI) administrative financing system. This paper analyzes the key shortcomings of the proposal, which basically amount to a tax cut proposal. (May 2004)

The Whole Truth: Employer Fraud and Error in the UI System exposes the ways in which unemployment insurance underpayments and employer fraud undermine the integrity of.   the nation’s unemployment insurance safety net. (December 2003)

What the Research Says About Personal Reemployment Accounts: Key Components of the Bush Administration's Proposal Fail the Long-Term Unemployed
The proponents of Personal Reemployment Accounts often cite the results of prior research that evaluated key components of the President's new initiative. This analysis describes the findings of the state demonstration programs, showing that "reemployment bonuses" and "worker profiling" programs failed to produce substantial benefits for the long-term unemployed and those living in areas hardest hit by unemployment. (February 29, 2003)  

$8 Billion in Reed Act Funding to States: Where Is It Going?
 A NELP report on $8 billion federal Reed Act block grants shows how states have spent funds to lower UI taxes rather than improve UI benefits.  The report is supplemented by a state by state table that over $6 billion remain that could be invested in improving and expanding access to UI benefits.  (updated Feb 10, 2003) 

Blame the Economy, Not the Long-Term Jobless & the Unemployment System - House Republicans Hold “Return to Work” Hearing. NELP fact sheet respond to a planned April 10, 2003, US House of Representative Ways & Means Subcommittee hearing on whether UI causes unemployment.

Unemployment Insurance and the Bush Administration Budget: A "New Balance," or New Marketing for Bad Ideas?
This fact sheet critiques the Bush Administration plans to devolve unemployment insurance administration to the states. (March 5, 2002) Come back soon for NELP's analysis of the Administration's revised Fy 2004 budget plan.