Representative Malinowski Secures Funding to Modernize State Unemployment Systems

Press Release

Today, the House of Representatives approved $118 million to help modernize antiquated IT systems used by state agencies to process unemployment claims and administer benefits to out-of-work Americans. Representative Malinowski led the effort in the House to secure this funding, which represents a greater than $100 million increase over the Fiscal Year 2021 enacted level. The provision passed as part of the Fiscal Year 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

The unprecedented surge of unemployed workers during the pandemic overwhelmed states' long-neglected IT systems and many Americans, through no fault of their own, were forced to wait months for help. Representative Malinowski has prioritized assisting constituents struggling to access unemployment benefits throughout the pandemic -- since the start of 2020, Rep. Malinowski's office has opened over 4,000 unemployment cases from constituents and closed over 3,450.

"My office has received more requests from constituents seeking help with unemployment benefits than we have for any other issue throughout the pandemic," said Representative Malinowski. "Out-of-work Americans should not have to wait months for help, be stuck on hold for hours or days just to have their basic questions answered, or be forced to rely on rickety IT systems programmed in computer languages from the 1970s. This much-needed funding will modernize these systems to better serve Americans during difficult times."

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