$300 Unemployment Benefit Deal Strikes Right Balance

By [ Austen Jensen ]
Washington, DC
03/05/2021

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) issued the following statement from Senior Vice President, Government Affairs Austen Jensen in response to the compromise agreement reached today by Senate Democrats on federal unemployment benefits in the COVID-19 relief bill:

“The compromise announced today by Senate Democrats to keep the plus-up in federal unemployment benefits at $300 strikes the right balance of helping those most in need while not creating an artificial barrier to reentering the workforce as the economy recovers.Today’s job numbers are a positive sign for the economy, and as we help families whose lives and livelihoods have been upended in the last twelve months by COVID-19, we must also focus on avenues for workers to return to private-sector employment. Retailers are aiding national vaccination efforts and are committed to safely re-opening the economy, and we will continue to advocate for policies that grow the economy and get all Americans back to work."

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RILA is the US trade association for leading retailers. We convene decision-makers, advocate for the industry, and promote operational excellence and innovation. Our aim is to elevate a dynamic industry by transforming the environment in which retailers operate.

RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs, and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers domestically and abroad.