The political battle over whether striking workers should be allowed to receive unemployment benefits is flaring up again in Washington.

U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat running for Senate, plans to introduce legislation Tuesday that would provide nationwide unemployment benefits to striking workers. Most states do not allow striking workers to collect unemployment, with the exception of New York and New Jersey. Eligibility requirements and the amount of weekly unemployment benefits also vary by state.

The Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2023 would allow workers to collect unemployment benefits after two weeks of strikes, according to a draft of the bill seen by The

LA

Time. Employees would also be eligible for unemployment benefits from the date the lockout begins, when the employer becomes a permanent replacement employee, or when the employee becomes unemployed following a strike or lockout, whichever occurs earlier.

Democratic U.S. Representative Donald Norcross of New Jersey and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York

So

sponsor the bill. Unions SAG-AFTRA, the Writers Guild of America, the Teamsters and the AFL-CIO also support the legislation, Schiff’s office said.

But now that Republicans control the House of Representatives, the bill’s chances of passage are slim. Businesses have strongly opposed the idea, saying it would lead to higher employer taxes. Employers pay state and federal payroll taxes to fund the unemployment insurance program.

The expected introduction of a federal bill comes after California’s governor. Gavin Newsom vetoed state legislation in September to put striking workers out of work. Newsom said he did so because of financial concerns, a move that was strongly criticized by union leaders.

California borrowed billions of dollars from the federal government to cover unemployment benefits, and the state’s unemployment fund debt was expected to reach nearly $20 billion by the end of the year. California unemployment benefits are $450 per week for up to 26 weeks. The business community has fought

in return for

the bill because they said they would pay additional taxes annually to repay California’s loan to the federal government.

The WGA

Writers Guild of America

and SAG-AFTRA lobbied for the expanded benefits,

noticing

saying they would help workers pay their bills. While members rely on part-time jobs and strike funds to stay afloat, those incomes are maintained

financing

decreases the longer a strike lasts. The 148-day Hollywood writers’ strike ended after WGA members ratified a new contract. Actors and crew members represented by SAG-AFTRA have been on strike for more than 100 days.

Democrats have expressed support for unions ahead of the 2024 elections. Unions including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Communication Workers of America and the Amalgamated Transit Union have endorsed Schiff for Senate, while other unions have backed his top Democratic rivals in the race.

During an October debate in Los Angeles, Schiff, along with California Democratic Senate candidates Barbara Lee and Katie Porter, disagreed with Newsom’s decision to veto the bill to extend unemployment benefits to striking workers to provide. He said at that event that he was working on federal legislation.

“If they’re going to strike for better work and better wages for themselves and others, they need unemployment benefits because they’re striking for all workers,” Schiff said during the debate.