Blumenthal Statement On White House Initiative To Help Long-Term Unemployed

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following statement in response to a White House initiative focused on helping the long-term unemployed. The initiative is designed to persuade major corporations to revamp their hiring processes in such a way that prevents them from discriminating against those who have been out of work for long stretches of time. As part of the initiative, President Obama signed an executive memorandum requiring federal agencies to similarly revamp their hiring processes, and directed $150 million in U.S. Department of Labor funds to organizations that help workers get needed job skills.

"Discrimination in the work place is abhorrent and unacceptable -- and should be banned. Facing the toughest job market in recent history, American workers deserve to be judged on their qualifications, not denied opportunity solely because they are currently unemployed or other extraneous factors. I applaud the President for working directly with the private sector to ensure that all workers -- regardless of whether they are unemployed -- are given a fair chance at work. The best practices the President has announced today would go a long way toward fighting the unwelcoming and sometimes explicitly discriminatory hiring practices that keep the long-term unemployed shut out of the labor market. But Congress must do more by moving forward with a federal prohibition against these unfair and economically harmful practices. In addition, the new Department of Labor grants could help organizations like The Workplace and Asnuntuck Community College continue to do the great work they do to ensure job-seekers in Connecticut have the tools they need to transition back into the workforce."

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