Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) is cosponsoring the Reopening America by Supporting Workers and Businesses Act of 2020 – legislation encouraging Americans to return to work following months of forced shutdowns and layoffs. 
 
"With so many businesses reopening in Kansas and throughout the country, it's critical that employees are there to fill the job openings and restart our economy," said Rep. Estes. "A return-to-work-bonus allows Kansans to receive two weeks of unemployment benefits when they accept a job offer, benefiting the worker, the businesses, and our communities. We need to move past the devastating effects of COVID-19 and temporary relief to robust growth and permanent solutions." 
 
Rep. Estes voted in favor of the CARES Act, which provided $600 per week in supplemental unemployment benefits to provide much-needed support and economic relief for workers who lost their jobs or have been unable to work due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Supplemental benefits were intended to support public health measures by allowing workers to stay home and businesses to close. 
 
As states begin to reopen, the expansion of benefits has presented serious challenges for businesses trying to recall workers, especially employers in the Paycheck Protection Program. Concerns have been raised that the additional $600 per week in benefits could mean some workers receive more on unemployment than their paycheck, creating a disincentive to work. As more businesses reopen across the country, employers shouldn't have to compete with unemployment to bring workers back. 
 
This bill will help local businesses rebuild their workforce quickly by turning these unemployment benefits into a back-to-work bonus that will provide a bump to workers and help accelerate our economic recovery. The bill includes: 

• Time-limited back-to-work bonuses: Make work pay by allowing workers to keep up to two weeks of the supplemental federal unemployment benefits after accepting a job, comparable to a $1,200 hiring bonus. The bonus would be available to claimants beginning a week after the date of enactment and end July 31, 2020. 
• Return-to-work reporting: Strengthen program integrity by ensuring employers can report job refusals and that states provide clear notice to unemployment claimants about return-to-work obligations and good-cause exceptions. 
• Relief for nonprofits: CARES Act provided additional relief for reimbursable employers, such as nonprofits, to help offset the costs of unemployment benefits by 50%. Nonprofits provide critical supports to low-income families and many are facing challenges reopening. This clarifies that nonprofits do not have to pay the full amount and wait for reimbursement. Instead, states can reduce the amount owed upfront. 

Rep. Estes also signed onto a congressional letter that addresses the need for a return-to-work bonus as well as not extending the $600 supplemental unemployment insurance past the July 31 deadline. 
 
Ron Estes is a 5th generation Kansan and represents Kansas’ 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means.