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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL)

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Rep. Ecklund votes to replenish Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, deliver bonus pay to frontline workers

Monday, April 25, 2022

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Tonight, the Minnesota House approved legislation to 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 more. Additionally, the bill makes hourly school employees like paraprofessionals, classroom assistants, bus drivers and others eligible for unemployment benefits in the summer.

Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls) voted for the legislation and issued the following statement:

“This bill is an important step forward to recognize the difficulties our businesses and our workers have encountered the last two years. With the added difficulties caused by border closures and wildfires in our region last summer, businesses don’t deserve a double-digit tax increase, a consequence they’d face in the absence of this important action. Bonus checks for our frontline workers are overdue, too, and the dedicated heroes who put themselves in harm’s way to get our state through the pandemic deserve economic security.

“We have the capacity to deliver critical support for businesses and workers alike, and this session, I’m hopeful we can continue supporting Minnesotans in our economic recovery.”