May 14, 2025
Ms. Ernst (for herself and Mr. Curtis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
To end unemployment payments to jobless millionaires.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Ending Unemployment Payments to Jobless Millionaires Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Ending unemployment payments to jobless millionaires
(a) Prohibition on use of Federal funds
(1) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal funds may be used—
(A)
to make payments of unemployment compensation benefits under an unemployment compensation program of the United States in a year to an individual whose wages during the individual’s base period are equal to or exceed $1,000,000; or
(B)
for any administrative costs associated with making payments described in subparagraph (A).
(2) Compliance
(A) Self-certification
Any application for unemployment compensation under an unemployment compensation program of the United States shall include a form or procedure for an individual applicant to certify that such individual’s wages during the individual’s base period do not equal or exceed $1,000,000.
(B) Verification
Each State agency that is responsible for administering any unemployment compensation program of the United States shall utilize available systems to verify wage eligibility by assessing claimant income to the degree possible.
(3) Audits
The certifications required by paragraph (2) shall be auditable by the Department of Labor or the Government Accountability Office.
(4) Recovery of overpayments
Each State agency that is responsible for administering any unemployment compensation program of the United States shall require individuals who have received amounts of unemployment compensation under such a program to which they were not entitled to repay such amounts.
(5) Effective date
The prohibition under paragraph (1) shall apply to weeks of unemployment beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Prohibition on imposing limits on States
The Secretary of Labor shall not promulgate any regulation or issue any guidance that would limit a State’s ability to disqualify an individual from receiving unemployment compensation on the basis that such individual has wages during the individual’s base period that are equal or exceed $1,000,000.
(c) Unemployment compensation program of the United States defined
In this section, the term unemployment compensation program of the United States
means—
(1)
unemployment compensation for Federal civilian employees under subchapter I of chapter 85 of title 5, United States Code;
(2)
unemployment compensation for ex-servicemembers under subchapter II of chapter 85 of title 5, United States Code;
(3)
extended benefits under the Federal-State Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note);
(4)
any Federal temporary extension of unemployment compensation;
(5)
any Federal program that increases the weekly amount of unemployment compensation payable to individuals; and
(6)
any other Federal program providing for the payment of unemployment compensation, as determined by the Secretary of Labor.