Congressman Adam Kinzinger’s talking about unemployment related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Congress passed the CARES act on March 27, which includes a provision that increases unemployment benefits by up to $600. The law also extends the maximum length of time a person can be on unemployment from 26 to 39 weeks. Currently this provision is set to expire on July 31.

Kinzinger said he’s hearing of concerns from business owners about employees not wanting to return to work because of these benefits. >>>> “It wasn’t intended to let people make more money without working; it was about immediate help for those forced not to work,” the congressman said. “In theory, if someone is offered to return to work and they refuse, they shouldn’t get unemployment. “

Kinzinger also says worker liability could keep businesses from re-opening because employees say they went back to work and then come down with COVID.

In late March there were 3,024 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Illinois. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, as of July 21, there were 163,703.

94.1 WGFA