SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Monday, the Minnesota House approved legislation to fully replenish the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund and deliver $1,500 bonus checks for more than 600,000 frontline workers, including health care workers, first responders, child care providers, food service and retail workers, and many more. Additionally, the bill makes hourly school employees like paraprofessionals, classroom assistants, bus drivers and others eligible for unemployment benefits in the summer.
Rep. Liz Olson (DFL – Duluth), House Deputy Majority Leader, issued the following statement:
“All along, House DFLers have been clear: we have the capacity to support workers and businesses, especially with a $9.25 billion budget surplus. Bonus payments for our frontline heroes are critically important when they and their families are facing rising costs every day. They didn’t have the option to work from home in most cases, and put their health and safety at risk while showing up every day to be there for our communities when we counted on them most. This legislation will also replenish the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund without putting the cost on the backs of businesses. I’m hopeful we can work quickly to get this legislation to the governor’s desk.”
Rep. Jen Schultz (DFL – Duluth) issued the following statement:
“Replenishing the UI trust fund and delivering bonus pay for frontline workers is the right action to take at a critical time for both businesses and workers alike. We depend on frontline workers every day, and their dedication during the pandemic’s darkest days was invaluable to keeping our state moving forward, even while they faced increased exposure to COVID. Extending unemployment for school workers is another critical step in the bill to help workers, who help our students grow and develop in multiple ways, stay and succeed in their jobs. I’m committed to advancing other solutions to strengthen Minnesota’s workforce – including our caring professions – to better ensure everyone can have the economic security they deserve.”