Van Hollen, Wyden, Baldwin Discuss Immediate Need to Address Long-term Unemployment with Biden Nominee Dr. Cecilia Rouse

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) have released the following statement regarding their virtual meeting yesterday with Dr. Cecilia Rouse, President-elect Biden’s nominee to serve as the Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors: 

“Right now, our country is facing a joblessness crisis of historic proportions. In October, we saw the single highest monthly increase in long-term unemployment on record. Long-term unemployment plagued our economy long before the pandemic – but since COVID-19 hit, it’s skyrocketed. To get long-term unemployment under control we must take serious action, now. During our meeting with Dr. Rouse, we underscored the urgency of this issue and discussed our Jobs for Economic Recovery Act to address this crisis and help disadvantaged workers stay on the job moving forward. We appreciate Dr. Rouse’s thoughtful attention to this challenge, and are committed to working together to create job opportunities and help Americans build a secure future.”

The Jobs for Economic Recovery Act was introduced by Senator Wyden in June 2020. Senators Van Hollen and Baldwin are both original cosponsors of the legislation, which incorporates provisions from their respective Long-Term Unemployment Elimination Act and Stronger Way Act.