Rep. Dave Armstrong Named To Trade And Supply Chain Committee; Introduces Commonsense Unemployment Insurance Reforms

MADISON, WI – Today, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced the creation of a Special Assembly Committee on Trade and Supply Chain and named State Rep. Dave Armstrong (R-Rice Lake) as one of its members.

“Across the state and country, demand is high, quantity is low, prices are increasing, and workers are scarce,” Speaker Vos said in his announcement. “The creation of this committee is another step Assembly Republicans are taking to support the Wisconsin businesses, families, and individuals who are impacted by these economic factors.”

“It is an honor to be asked to serve on this committee,” Representative Armstrong said. “I look forward to working with my fellow committee members to develop practical solutions to ongoing supply chain issues that are affecting almost all Wisconsin residents in one way or another.”

Another persistent problem facing Wisconsin and many other states are critical staff shortages, and legislative Republicans have announced the Stronger Workforce Initiative, a package designed to get Wisconsin’s economy back up and running by encouraging employment. As part of this initiative, Representative Armstrong is circulating a proposal to improve the unemployment insurance (UI) system’s efficiency and integrity.

“The UI system needs to be able to serve people when they need it, to see them through during their job search,” Representative Armstrong said. “My proposal requires the Department of Workforce Development to provide extended hours at its UI call centers during emergencies and other periods of unusually high demand and allows the Department of Administration to transfer employees from other state departments to DWD to assist UI. This proposal also requires DWD to audit 50% of claimants’ work searches and also to cross-check claimants on a number of databases – including death, employment, and prison records – to rein in fraud and other erroneous payments. These and other reforms in the bill will help to ensure that UI benefits are going to people who truly need it and who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Governor Evers’ response to COVID-19 severely hurt Wisconsin small businesses, and I hope the Legislature will act quickly on this and the other proposals in the Stronger Workforce package. A strong workforce is essential to a strong economy and a strong Wisconsin.”