Tales Of The New Crown: Michigan State Contractor Charged in $2 million Unemployment Fraud Scheme

Just in the nick of time!

People were in panic from fear of eviction for failure to pay rent, but, now, everything will be wonderful, just as soon as everyone understands that it will probably be another 19 weeks before any of the unemployment funds are released.

I hope it is soon because it just rained again, meaning, Detroit residents are looking at a $200 and up sewage bill this month.

I did not mention the rain from last month, but I will considering that I received a $600 sewage bill.

Just think, all that unemployment money will be going to the next round of Wayne County fake ass property tax foreclosures.

If you find the theft of $2 million during a pandemic to be a bold and egregious move against humanity, just wait until you find out about the other State of Michigan Public Private Partnerships in Medicaid fraud schemes in child welfare.

$2 million t'is but a drop in the bucket, and I do not mean rainwater.

#maytheheavensfall

A Detroit woman was charged in a criminal complaint for her alleged role in a multi-million dollar unemployment insurance fraud scheme aimed at defrauding the State of Michigan and the U.S. Government of funds earmarked for unemployment assistance during the COVID19 pandemic, announced United States Attorney Matthew Schneider.

Joining in the announcement were Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, Special Agent in Charge Douglas J. Zloto, US Secret Service, Richard Sheehan, Acting Postal Inspector in Charge of the Detroit Division, Special Agent in Charge Steven M. D’Antuono, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Special Agent in Charge Sarah Kull, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and Jeffrey Frost, Special Fraud Advisor, Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Unemployment Insurance Agency.

Charged is Brandi Hawkins, 39.

According to the complaint, Brandi Hawkins was a contract employee for the State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency.  Her duties included reviewing, processing and verifying the legitimacy of unemployment insurance claims.

Beginning in April, 2020, it is alleged that Hawkins used her insider access to fraudulently release payment on hundreds of fraudulent claims.  Hawkins actions resulted in the fraudulent disbursement of over $2,000,000 of federal and state funds intended for unemployment assistance during the pandemic.  Over $200,000 in cash was seized from her residence during a search warrant.  Hawkins is alleged to have used proceeds from her crimes to purchase high-end handbags and other luxury goods.

”Brandi Hawkins is charged with exploiting the current pandemic to defraud the State of Michigan and United States for her own personal gain.  These are serious allegations, and my office is committed to prosecuting any person who attempts to use the Covid-19 crisis to defraud the people of Michigan,” stated US Attorney Matthew Schneider.

“The U.S. Secret Service is currently focused on criminals attempting to exploit the American people during these unprecedented times of record unemployment due to the pandemic. It is especially egregious when someone in a position of trust, working for an agency created to assist the residents of the State of Michigan, takes advantage of those during their time of need. We will continue to work with our federal and state partners to bring these perpetrators to justice”, said Douglas Zloto, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service - Detroit Field Office.

“An important mission of the Office of Inspector General is to investigate allegations of fraud related to unemployment insurance benefit programs.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of unemployment insurance benefit programs,” stated Irene Lindow, Special Agent-in-Charge, Chicago Region, U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

“Brandi Hawkins’ alleged actions are incredibly selfish and without regard for her fellow Michiganders in dire need of financial assistance,” said Sarah Kull, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office.  “IRS-CI will not hesitate to thoroughly investigate any COVID19 related fraud and bring those offenders to justice.”

Richard Sheehan, Acting Postal Inspector in Charge of the Detroit Division said, “This investigation was an excellent example of a partnership between federal law enforcement agencies, working together to bring down this fraud conspiracy. I fully commend the hard work and countless hours put forth by all of the agencies involved, which resulted in bringing Brandi Hawkins to justice.”

“We appreciate U.S. Attorney Schneider‘s quick action to bring this case to justice. The Unemployment Insurance Agency will continue to work closely with state and federal partners to identify unemployment fraud that can be quickly turned over to law enforcement for prosecution,” stated Jeffrey Frost, Special Fraud Advisor, Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Unemployment Insurance Agency.

A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt.  Trial cannot be held on felony charges in a complaint.  When the investigation is completed a determination will be made whether to seek a felony indictment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Wyse. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, United States Secret Service, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Unemployment Insurance Agency, Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

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CONYERS: CBC Foundation Legislative Conference On Jobs

Jobs, Justice, Peace.

Conyers speaks on Martin Luther King, Jr., how Coretta Scott King continued his work in jobs initiatives, and the need for the Federal Reserve to create jobs.

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CONYERS: Ensuring Good Jobs for All in the Trump Era: How We Can Grow Jobs and Wages and Expose False Promises

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

Congressman John Conyers Jr., Co-Chair of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus, invites you to a briefing with leading economic experts to discuss how progressive advocates for jobs and wages should approach the issue during the Trump administration. Experts will review the basics of full employment, how it is achieved, why it is important for wage growth, benefits, unionization rates, and society at large. They will review the Federal Reserve System’s legal requirement to seek “maximum employment” as well as fiscal policies that can ensure full employment. Other topics will include: addressing the racial gap in unemployment rates and wages, proven strategies to increase our manufacturing sector, and much more. There will be a question and answer period following the discussion.

Esteemed panelists:

• Heather Boushey, Executive Director of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth and top economic advisor to Hillary Clinton
• Hilary Shelton, Director, NAACP Washington Bureau
• William Spriggs, Chief Economist to the AFL-CIO
• Dean Baker, Co-Director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research
• Elise Gould, Senior Economist at the Economic Policy Institute
• Josh Bivens, Director of Research at the Economic Policy Institute
• Robert Borosage, Campaign for America's Future (Moderator)

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CONYERS Applauds November Job Report's Low Unemployment Rate

Washington, DC – Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13) founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus, today released the following statement on the November jobs report:

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“November’s jobs report is the latest piece of good news about our job market, which has consistently gained strength under President Obama’s leadership.  The unemployment rate fell to 4.6 percent and the economy added 178,000 jobs in November, extending the longest streak of job growth on record. I am also pleased to see that 220,000 fewer Americans are involuntarily working part-time, meaning they wanted, but were unable to find, full-time work. This is a new low mark since onset of the Great Recession that was ushered in by Republican economic mismanagement."

“This is excellent progress, and all fair observers must recognize and praise President Obama’s terrific economic management. However, there is more work to do to ensure that we achieve a true full employment economy with abundant job opportunities and rising wages for all. At 8.1 percent, the African-American unemployment rate is nearly twice that of whites, while the Hispanic rate is also elevated at 5.7 percent. Also concerning, is that decline in the unemployment rate may be partially due to workers giving up searching for work, which is exemplified by decrease in the “prime age (25-54) employment-to-population ratio” from 78.2 percent to 78.1 percent. This is still an improvement of 0.7 percentage points from last year, however, showing that the overall trend is positive. Finally, wage growth fell 3 cents in November after a rapid uptick in October, demonstrating that wages are not accelerating at a rate that should raise concerns over inflation. In fact, the American people deserve a raise, which is why Republicans must stop blocking legislation to increase the minimum wage."

“I continue to urge all of our key policymaking institutions, from Congress to the Federal Reserve, to continue to take actions that will help us achieve a full employment economy. Congress should pass job-creating bills, such as my legislation, H.R. 1000, Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act, while the Federal Reserve should not slow job and wage growth by raising interest rates.”

The Congressional Full Employment Caucus was launched in February 2014. The Congressional Full Employment Caucus serves as a platform and working group for Members of Congress who are dedicated to identifying solutions and advocating for legislative action to reduce unemployment.

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CONGRESSIONAL FULL EMPLOYMENT CAUCUS STATEMENT ON MAY JOBS REPORT

Washington, D.C. – Congressional Full Employment Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) released the following statement on May jobs report numbers:

Dean of the U.S. House
of Representatives
John Conyers, Jr.

“We are deeply concerned by the alarming jobs numbers released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which show that just 38,000 jobs were created last month—the weakest number in six years.  Jobs figures for the previous two months were revised down, bringing the average for the last three months to just 116,000.   Although the unemployment rate decreased 0.3% to 4.7%, this reflects increased hopelessness rather than new hiring, as the number of Americans looking for work decreased to 62.6%—a level unseen since the late 1970s. The number of Americans working part-time because they were unable to find full time work increased dramatically to 6.4 million people. Communities of color continue to face crisis-level unemployment rates, showing almost no improvement in employment.

“This disappointing jobs report is sending a powerful message:  it is unacceptable for policymakers, including the Federal Reserve, to take any action that harms job and wage growth. This means that raising the interest rate should be off the table, especially considering the impact it would have on communities of color that have yet to share in the economic recovery. As we wrote to Chair Yellen with 124 other House Members and Senators last month, “By fostering genuine full employment, the Federal Reserve can help combat discrimination and dramatically reduce the disproportionate unemployment faced by minority populations.”

“Despite significant progress in recent years, our job market is still too weak to declare victory. Congress must step up to the plate and work with President Obama to expeditiously pass legislation that creates good-paying jobs. President Obama, Congress, and the Federal Reserve must make clear to the American people that job creation remains our top priority.”

The Congressional Full Employment Caucus was launched in February 2014. Members of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus have introduced three bills to address the unemployment crisis and help Americans access good-paying jobs: H.R. 1000, the Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act of 2015, H.R.3555, the Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! Act of 2015, and H.R.1966, the21st Century Civilian Conservation Corps Act. The Congressional Full Employment Caucus serves as a platform and working group for Members of Congress who are dedicated to identifying solutions and advocating for legislative action to reduce unemployment.

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CONYERS LAUDS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR GRANT TO IMPLEMENT NEW WORK-SHARING PROGRAM IN MICHIGAN

The Congressman Urges Michigan Businesses To Learn More

DETROIT- The U.S. Department of Labor has granted the state of Michigan $2,840,535 in federal funding to support implementation and promotion of the new short-time compensation (STC) program.

The STC program, commonly known as "work-sharing," prevents layoffs by allowing employers to reduce employees’ hours as an alternative to layoffs during an economic downturn.  Under the STC program, workers affected by reduced hours have their wages supplemented by a percentage of the weekly unemployment compensation that they would have received had they been laid off.  The program gives businesses the crucial ability to retain skilled employees at reduced hours during tough economic times, allowing them to simply restore employee hours when demand improves which significantly reduces the high cost to employers of conducting layoffs and re-hiring.

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

“As an early supporter of work-sharing here in the United States, I am very pleased that Michigan has received federal resources to bolster this important program,” said Rep. John Conyers, who is a founder and chair of the Congressional Full Employment Caucus.  “Work-sharing is win for all invested parties: workers remain employed and get to keep their health and retirement benefits, while employers can retain skilled workers that are integral to the success of their businesses. Entire communities benefit when lives are not disrupted unnecessarily by the scourge of unemployment.”

The federal funding resources were made available through the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which included language taken directly from the Layoff Prevention Act (H.R. 2421) that was co-sponsored by Rep. Conyers and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) in July 2011.

States have until the end of this year to apply for federal resources to implement the STC program.  To address this looming deadline, Reps. Conyers and DeLauro again joined forces to co-sponsor H.R. 5583, the Layoff Prevention Extension Act of 2014, which will give states an additional year to make their STC programs eligible for federal support.  Both members plan to reintroduce the Layoff Prevention Extension Act in the 114^th Congress.

Several U.S. states and countries with STC programs have seen significant economic results.  In Rhode Island, work-sharing prevented more than 13,000 layoffs between 2007 and 2010 – the height of the Great Recession.  Countries such as Germany and Japan have reduced levels of unemployment by as much as 1% through work-sharing programs.

“Short-time compensation is something that all states should have an opportunity to have in place long before any future economic downturns occur,” added Rep. Conyers.  “It is critical that Congress pass the Layoff Prevention Extension Act immediately to ensure that all states have adequate time to complete their state-level deliberation and decision-making processes and ultimately reap the benefits of work-sharing.”

Visit the Department of Labor’s website for more information on Short-Time Compensation.

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CONYERS APPLAUDS PRESIDENT’S COMMUNITY CHALLENGE TO BOOST OPPORTUNITY FOR MINORITY YOUTH

DETROIT—Today, President Obama announced the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge, an effort to spur cities, counties, suburbs, rural municipalities, and tribal nations to implement an integrated cradle-to-college and career strategy aimed at improving life outcomes for young people, with special emphasis on boys and young men of color.  The new Community Challenge is a key component of the President’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative, which was announced in February and leverages public, private, and nonprofit resources to improve literacy, educational and career opportunities for youth.   Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) issued the following statement:

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

“I commend President Obama for his strong and steadfast commitment to closing the Opportunity Gap.   The Community Challenge builds on the findings of the White House’s My Brother’s Keeper Task Force, calling on local leaders to establish actionable plans to boost literacy, create employment opportunities, ensure high school graduation, reduce violent crime, and improve relations between youth and law enforcement.  The Community Challenge creates a framework for leveraging public and private investments to meet concrete objectives related to these priorities.   Today’s announcement represents an essential tool in the effort to close the school-to-prison pipeline. "

“I am especially pleased that the City of Detroit, MI, which I have the honor of representing in the US House of Representatives, has been designated as an “Early Acceptor” of the My Brother’s Keeper Community Challenge. Through this initiative, parents, educators, elected officials, philanthropies, and business leaders will empower the young people of our community to reach their full potential. "

“At a time when an estimated 5.8 million young Americans are neither in school nor working, we have an urgent obligation to create opportunity for young people.  This month, Senator Bernie Sanders and I introduced the Employ Young Americans Now Act (H.R. 5489) to provide $5.5 billion in grants to states and local governments to provide job opportunities to one million young Americans, and offer job training to hundreds of thousands more.  This is an important complement to the President’s prudent approach."

“I look forward to continuing my work with the Obama administration to ensure the success of the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative and the success of minority youth in Detroit and throughout the nation.”

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Conyers, Wilson, & Kaptur Host Brain Trust on Long-Term Unemployment As Congress Turns a Blind Eye

(WASHINGTON) – This afternoon, the Congressional Full Employment Caucus held a panel discussion on the ongoing employment crisis in America, entitled “Bipartisan Solutions to Long-Term Unemployment.” The event - moderated by Arthur Delaney with the Huffington Post - featured esteemed panelists including: Betsey Stevenson, a Member of the White House Council of Economic Advisors; Judy Conti, Federal Advocacy Coordinator with the National Employment Law Project; and Heidi Shierholz, an Economist at the Economic Policy Institute. During the course of the discussion, panelists identified proven bipartisan solutions - that Congress can consider and pass immediately - to combat the ongoing employment crisis in the United States and get Americans back to work.

At the conclusion of the panel discussion, Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.), and Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) issued the following statement:

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.): “The unemployment rate has declined at an unacceptably slow pace in the half-decade since the financial crisis. More than 3.4 million currently-unemployed people have been out of work for 27 weeks or longer, excluding the untold number of individuals who have become discouraged and dropped out of the workforce. I co-founded the Congressional Full Employment Caucus this year so that Congress focuses on the widespread unemployment crisis. Having a job is not only essential for having a home and having healthcare. It is essential for enjoying a life of basic stability and dignity. The discussion today not only shed light on the plight of the long-term unemployed - and the discrimination that they face - but also on the actions Congress can take right away. The greatest danger is that Congress will forget this human tragedy. Today’s panel is the first of several efforts - spearheaded by the new Full Employment Caucus - to restore the focus on jobs and to identify and advocate for lasting solutions to the unemployment crisis.”

Representative Frederica S. Wilson (D-Fla.): “There’s a simple message I’ve been trying to get across since I arrived in Congress: Unemployment is our true deficit. People are suffering. Five years after the onset of the financial crisis, there are still more than eleven million people actively looking for jobs, more than four million who have been jobless for six months or longer, and seven million who have given up looking for work altogether. Nearly 3 million Americans, including more than 130,000 Floridians, have not received their unemployment insurance benefits since December 2013.  Now more than ever, it is important that we support a movement towards full employment by enacting policy that creates jobs and boost wages. The mantra of this Congress must be: Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!”

Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio): “Putting Americans back to work is priority number one.  Our unemployment crisis not only hurts those who cannot find work today, but future generations.  We must act now.  The solution could not be more clear.  If we want a strong future, we must invest in our crumbling infrastructure—supporting millions of good jobs modernizing our transportation, energy, and water sectors.  We have the tools to do great things for the American people.  We need the will to act.  I am excited to be leading that charge today.”

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Reps. Conyers, Wilson, & Kaptur to Host “Bipartisan Solutions to Long-Term Unemployment” Panel, June 24th at 1 PM

(WASHINGTON)-In the United States today, there are more than 3.4 million unemployed workers who have been searching for a job for longer than six months.

While lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and across the political spectrum consistently rank addressing unemployment as a top priority, there has been little bipartisan action to spur job creation in recent years. The Congressional Full Employment Caucus – founded by Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.) – will hold panel discussing this crisis, entitled “Bipartisan Solutions to Long-Term Unemployment,” in 2226 Rayburn House Office Building.

This panel will bring together a diverse range of leading thinkers to identify proven bipartisan solutions - that Congress can pass immediately - to combat the ongoing employment crisis in the United States and get Americans back to work.This event will be moderated by Arthur Delaney with the Huffington Post, and esteemed panelists include:

• Betsey Stevenson, a Member of the White House Council of Economic Advisors; 
• Michael Strain, a Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute; 
• Judy Conti, Federal Advocacy Coordinator with the National Employment Law Project; and 
• Heidi Shierholz, an Economist at the Economic Policy Institute.

For further information about the panel discussion or the Congressional Full Employment Caucus, please contact Erik Sperling in the Office of Congressman John Conyers, Jr. at 202-225-5126 or Erik.Sperling@mail.house.gov.

 “Bipartisan Solutions to Long-Term Unemployment” Panel:

• Arthur Delaney, Huffington Post
• Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.)
• Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.)
• Congresswoman Marcy Kaputer (D-Ohio)
• Betsey Stevenson – Member, White House Council of Economic Advisors
• Michael Strain – Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
• Judy Conti – Federal Advocacy Coordinator, National Employment Law Project
• Heidi Shierholz – Economist, Economic Policy Institute

When:Tuesday, June 24, 1:00 pm. Where: 2226 Rayburn House Office Building

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After Failing to Renew Unemployment Insurance, Congress Is a Culprit in Foreclosure Crisis

By Reps. John Conyers Jr., Matt Cartwright and Steven Horsford

In the immediate aftermath of the nation’s 2008 foreclosure crisis, Congress played a constructive role in keeping Americans in their homes.

Lawmakers supported loan modification programs and sweeping financial reforms, and — while many rightfully demanded more action — these efforts eased the effects of the crisis.

Today, the lingering effects of predatory lending and the Great Recession mean that foreclosures remain a serious problem in communities around the country.

But, in the national fight to stop foreclosures, one crucial fact has changed: Congress is now a culprit.

By failing to extend emergency unemployment insurance benefits, House GOP leaders have unnecessarily thrust millions of Americans into financial hardship and many, in turn, into foreclosure.Congress must again be part of the solution.

Lawmakers should immediately extend emergency UI benefits. But, if House GOP leaders continue their obstruction, the absolute least lawmakers can do is pass a measure to direct the Federal Housing Finance Agency to impose a six month moratorium on foreclosures for individuals who have lost UI due to congressional inaction.

Because of the GOP’s termination of the federal emergency UI program, more than 2.2 million Americans, including more than 200,000 veterans, have lost access to an essential lifeline that’s rightfully theirs. Unemployment insurance is not a hand-out.

Americans who lost their jobs in one of the toughest job markets in memory have largely paid into the emergency compensation program through payroll taxes.

There’s simply no valid economic argument for failing to renew UI.  The Census Bureau estimates that these benefits enabled 2.5 million people to get out of poverty in 2012 and enabled more than 11 million to do so since 2008.

According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, restoring benefits would result in 200,000 additional jobs this year by increasing consumer demand.

The logic is simple: When unemployed Americans receive income, they spend it.

When they can go out and purchase their necessities, they boost the economy and promote job-creation. All this boosts tax revenue and reduces deficits.

When you factor in the foreclosures that result from people unexpectedly losing their basic UI income, the social and economic impacts are immeasurably greater.

Foreclosure and evictions are not only responsible for massive anxiety and suffering but also downward spirals in property values and tax revenue.

Restoring UI is not just a matter of sound policy making. It’s a matter of basic decency.

While the Senate has done what’s right by passing legislation to extend UI, House GOP leaders refuse to even allow a vote.

If this intransigence continues, the newly-confirmed director of the FHFA, Melvin Watt, can take matters into his own hands and impose a moratorium on foreclosures for Americans affected by the cutoff.

Earlier this year, we, along with 74 of our colleagues, sent a letter requesting that he use his authority to do so.

Half a decade after the onset of the financial crisis, it’s unacceptable that tens of millions of Americans are still unemployed or desperately underemployed.

Congress must — at the absolute least — keep these Americans from losing their homes.

John Conyers Jr. of Michigan, Matt Cartwright of Pennsylvania and Steven Horsfordof Nevada are Democratic members of the House of Representatives.

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Conyers: “Extending Unemployment Insurance Is the Least Congress Can Do”

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13) issued the following statement regarding Congress’s continuing failure to extend emergency Unemployment Insurance (UI).  On December 28, 1.3 million Americans immediately lost access to UI, with the expiration of the program.  Every week, an average of 72,000 more Americans are cut off from assistance. 

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

“More than two million Americans have lost their UI benefits since they expired at the end of last year. This includes at least 106,200 people in Michigan. Until the House takes action, 72,000 people will lose benefits each week.

Many opponents of extending unemployment insurance have argued that doing so would be ‘fiscally irresponsible.’  I take a different view: I believe it is always fiscally responsible to save people from falling into destitution, starvation, and despair. 

Half a decade after the start of the Great Recession—a crisis caused by recklessness on Wall Street—America’s working families are still suffering mightily.   There are more than 11 million people searching for work, including at least 4 million who have gone without pay six months or longer.   There’s just one job opening for every three applicants.  More than 50 million people – including 13 million children—live in poverty in America today.  

Joblessness not only means financial harm but also anxiety and lost health coverage.  It means lost homes through foreclosures.  It means a loss of skills and lifelong earnings potential.    Extending emergency unemployment insurance would help ease the human suffering that lies behind the statistics.  

But extending emergency unemployment insurance isn’t just about helping the unemployed and their families: It’s about helping our economy as a whole. An extension of unemployment insurance would boost consumption and consumer demand, leading to an estimated additional 200,000 jobs in the coming year.   When unemployed Americans receive income, they spend it.  When they can go out and purchase their necessities, they boost the economy and promote job-creation.  All this boosts tax revenue and reduces deficits.  It should be no surprise that, for every $1 the government spends on safety net program, it creates up to $2 in economic growth. 

Extending emergency unemployment insurance is, in short, both good ethics and good economics.  Let’s do the right thing for unemployed Americans and for the economy as a whole.  Let’s restore unemployment insurance and get America back to a serious full employment agenda. “

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Conyers: Congress Must Extend Unemployment Benefits Immediately

(WASHINGTON) – Today, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) released the following statement after the U.S. Senate’s passage of a five-month extension of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits by a vote of 59-38:

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

"By extending emergency unemployment insurance, the U.S. Senate has done what’s right for struggling Americans and the U.S. economy as a whole. House GOP leaders’ refusal to even allow a vote on UI is destroying lives and damaging our economic recovery. The House must renew UI immediately,” said Conyers.

“With tens of millions of Americans looking for full-time living-wage work and just one job opening for every three applicants, unemployment remains a national emergency. Failing to extend unemployment insurance means people losing their homes through foreclosure, going without food on the table, and suffering horrendous anxiety.

“More than two million Americans have lost their UI benefits since they expired at the end of last year. This includes 106,200 people in Michigan. Until the House takes action, 72,000 people will lose benefits each week.

“Unemployment insurance is not a hand-out. Americans have purchased unemployment insurance through payroll taxes, but Republicans in Congress are denying them what is rightfully theirs.

“This is about helping struggling Americans and strengthening the overall economy.  An extension of unemployment insurance would boost consumer demand, leading to an estimated additional 200,000 jobs in the coming year.  When unemployed Americans receive income, they spend it. When they can go out and purchase their necessities, they boost the economy and promote job-creation. All this boosts tax revenue and reduces deficits. It should be no surprise that, for every $1 spent on safety net programs like UI, there’s an additional $2 in economic growth. The House must renew UI immediately.” 

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Conyers Invites Candace Adams - an Unemployed Constituent - to State of the Union, Underscoring Necessity of Job Creating Policies

House Democrats Urge Immediate Action to Extend Emergency Unemployment Compensation Program

(WASHINGTON) – Today, House Democrats held a press conference, with unemployed guests they had invited to the State of the Union Address, urging Congressional action to extend the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation program expired on December 28^th because inadequate action was taken by House and Senate Republicans. Since then, more than 1.6 million Americans nationwide have had benefits cut off and this number continues to grow by 72,000 additional job seeking Americans every week. Following the press conference and prior to the State of the Union Address, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement:

“Today, I invited a young unemployed constituent of mine, Ms. Candace Adams, to attend the State of the Union Address to put a face on the millions of unemployed Americans who have received little relief from this Congress. Although she is not one of the 1.6 million Americans who have lost access to unemployment insurance, she is one of 5.8 million young Americans who cannot find work, are not in school, and are ineligible to collect benefits because they have never held a job,” Conyers said.  

Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) prior to the State of the Union Address standing alongside his invited constituent guest, Candace Adams.

“Ms. Adams returned to school for a master’s degree in Communications in the hopes that an advanced degree would assist in her search, but it was to no avail. Extending emergency unemployment compensation legislation is critical to help Americans pay the bills and feed their families as they look for a job. House and Senate Republicans must work with Democrats to allow a vote so Congress can extend this vital relief for people who worked hard, played by the rules, and lost their jobs through no fault of their own. This lifeline is not only key for these families to make ends meet, but also will help keep up consumer demand to strengthen local businesses.

“Above all, we must look at long-term solutions to lead this country back to an era of full employment, and put 20 million unemployed and underemployed Americans back to work so that they do not have to rely on unemployment insurance. It is long past time for Congress to focus on policies that will create jobs to put all hardworking Americans back to work while rebuilding our communities. My full employment legislation, H.R. 1000, the ‘Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment and Training Act’ would be a perfect place to start.”

At the end of December, 1.3 million Americans lost unemployment insurance, which has now risen to 1.6 million Americans. This included 43,311 Michiganders in December when the program expired. That number has grown to 53,292 and will continue to grow as 3,327 additional Michiganders lose benefits every week over the next six months. The federal unemployment insurance program - formally called Emergency Unemployment Compensation - took effect in 2008 and was signed by President George W. Bush and has been reauthorized several times as the economy continues to recover. Despite the real progress the economy has made since its near collapse in 2008, there are still over 1 million fewer jobs than there were before the recession and more than 4 million Americans have been out of work for six months or longer. On average, nationwide, the program provides about $300 a week to recipients. Failure to extend federal unemployment insurance will hurt job growth locally and throughout the nation, costing the economy 240,000 jobs this year, according to the White House Council of Economic Advisers.

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Conyers Urges House Republicans to Follow Senate’s Bipartisan Lead & Extend Unemployment Insurance

(WASHINGTON) – Today, the U.S. Senate voted to begin consideration of a three-month extension of unemployment insurance, on a bipartisan vote of 60 to 37. Six Republican Senators joined every Democratic Senator in the procedural vote. The federal unemployment insurance program took effect in 2008 and was signed by President George W. Bush and has since been reauthorized several times as the economy continues to recover from the worst recession since the Great Depression. There are still more than 4 million Americans who have been out of work for six months or longer. In addition, failure to extend federal unemployment insurance will hurt job growth throughout the nation, costing the economy 240,000 jobs this year, according to the White House Council of Economic Advisers. After the vote, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement:

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

“Today, the Senate took a first step toward reinstating the vital economic lifeline for more than a million Americans that was cut-off during the holidays due to House Republican obstruction – voting to begin debate on a bipartisan extension of unemployment insurance. Passage of this legislation is critical to help Americans pay the bills and feed their families as they look for a job,” said Conyers.

“House Republican leaders must also allow a vote on extending unemployment insurance so Congress can extend this relief for people who worked hard, played by the rules, and lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Already, 1.3 million Americans have lost unemployment insurance, as the emergency job aid expired at the end of December, including 43,311 Michiganders. That number will only continue to grow as 3,327 additional Michiganders will lose jobless aid every week in the first half of 2014.

“It is unconscionable that House Republicans previously blocked consideration of extending unemployment insurance that helps Americans make ends meet as they look for a job.  American families deserve better as our economy continues to recover from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. It is long past time for Congress to focus on policies that will create jobs to put all hardworking Americans back to work while rebuilding our communities. My legislation, H.R. 1000, the ‘Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment and Training Act,’ would do just that, and put the United States on track towards becoming a full employment society.”

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Conyers Votes Against Budget Deal, Calls for Congress to Immediately Pass Extension of Jobless Aid

(WASHINGTON) – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 332 to 94 to pass H.J. Res. 59, the “Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013.” This two year budget agreement is the result of negotiations between Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.). Following his vote against the budget deal, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement:

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

“Unfortunately, I was unable to support this legislation as the ‘Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013’ does not address the sequester for fiscal years 2016-2018, and the deal reduces the cost of living adjustment for new service members in our armed forces. Worst of all, this legislation does not include an extension of Emergency Unemployment Compensation, that will expire for 1.3 million Americans this December 28^th, and for 1.9 million more individuals in the first half of 2014. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation is a lifeline for millions of hardworking Americans seeking work, and it is unthinkable that Congress would leave millions out in the cold in the middle of the holiday season. Congress should not leave until an extension is considered,” said Conyers.

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Conyers Calls for Congress to Immediately Pass Extension of Jobless Aid

(WASHINGTON) – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 332 to 94 to pass H.J. Res. 59, the “Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013.” This two year budget agreement is the result of weeks of negotiations between Senate Budget Committee Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) following the fallout of the government shutdown and near-default in October. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 sets overall discretionary spending for the current fiscal year at $1.012 trillion; about halfway between the Senate budget level of $1.058 trillion and the House budget level of $967 billion.Following his vote in support of the budget deal, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement:

U.S. Representative
John Conyers, Jr.

"For the past three years, Congress has coasted from one artificial budget crisis to another, ultimately resulting in the government shutdown - and near-default - that brought Washington to a standstill this past October. While the ‘Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013’ is imperfect, I applaud the bipartisan spirit that produced this deal, returning our budget process to regular order, providing stability to working families, and ending the nonsensical sequester that imperiled public priorities. It is for these reasons that I believe the good outweighs the bad budgetary items, and I cast a vote in favor of the comprehensive measure,” said Conyers.

“Specifically, this bipartisan budget agreement will replace the indiscriminate budgetary sequester, by providing $63 billion in sequester relief over two years, which will replace nearly two-thirds of the cuts to vital domestic programs. This is achieved through multiple progressive revenue pieces that increase fees on banks and increase revenue from oil and gas development in the Caribbean. Further, the ‘Bipartisan Budget Act’ does not make any cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security, preserving these essential safety nets. In addition, the agreement patches the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate – the so-called ‘doc fix’ – that reimburses doctors for treating patients on Medicare. This 3 month patch will allow the House and Senate to negotiate a permanent fix to the reimbursement problem.

“Unfortunately, this bill does not address the sequester for fiscal years 2016-2018, and the deal reduces the cost of living adjustment for new service members in our armed forces. Worst of all, this legislation does not include an extension of Emergency Unemployment Compensation, that will expire for 1.3 million Americans this December 28^th, and for 1.9 million more individuals in the first half of 2014. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation is a lifeline for millions of hardworking Americans seeking work, and it is unthinkable that Congress would leave millions out in the cold in the middle of the holiday season. Congress should not leave until an extension is considered.

“With these budgetary distractions behind us, it is my hope that Congress can get back to the people’s work - on unemployment, immigration, voting rights, and much more - that has languished due to Congress’s fiscal stalemate.”

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U.S. Judiciary Testimony on the Regulatory Freeze for Jobs Act 2012

The Regulatory Freeze for Jobs Act would impose a moratorium on all significant regulatory action until the national unemployment rate drops to 6.0 percent.

Click here to watch U.S. Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Jr. cross examine the witnesses.

Written Testimony of Robert Weissman President, Public Citizen before the The Subcommittee on Courts, Comme...

Conyers Applauds Passage of Payroll Tax Compromise; Calls on Michigan Legislature to Restore State Unemployment Benefits

For Immediate Release

Date: Friday, February 17, 2012

Contact: Matthew Morgan – 202-226-5543


Conyers Applauds Passage of Payroll Tax Compromise; Calls on Michigan Legislature to Restore State Unemployment Benefits

(WASHINGTON) – Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement today in response to the passage of the conference report for H.R. 3630 – Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011.

“Today’s passage of the payroll tax conference report will ensure that jobless Americans retain access to needed unemployment benefits, America’s seniors are able to see the doctor of their choice, and American families will avoid a $1,000 tax increase,” said Conyers. “While not perfect, I supported this compromise legislation because it will stabilize the current economic recovery and help keep economic relief flowing to families in Southeast Michigan.

“I do want to express my disappointment that other provisions in the compromise which cut benefits for federal workers and place burdensome requirements on welfare recipients will force low-income and middle-class Americans to make additional sacrifices, while, yet again, nothing is asked of the wealthiest 1 percent. Helping the richest Americans avoid paying their fair share makes for bad policy and exacerbates already unacceptably high levels of income inequality in our country.

“Although it was critical that Congress act to partially extend federal emergency unemployment benefits, I am deeply disappointed that the conference committee was unable to fully extend current benefit levels through the end of the year. We risk inflicting unnecessary harm to Michigan families and our state’s economy by arbitrarily and abruptly cutting off access to unemployment benefits at various points in the upcoming year.

“In light of these cutbacks at the federal level, it is now more important than ever for the Michigan Legislature to move quickly to reinstate a law that provided jobless Michiganders with 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. Reinstating these benefits would be a particularly appropriate use for the $400 million budget surplus recently announced by Governor Snyder.”

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The reporter did not watch the debate.