1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose SB8 (Bernskoetter) and HB771 (Hewkin), which would drastically reduce the minimum number of weeks unemployed workers can claim benefits by nearly 40%. This legislation is short-sighted and will harm the average Missourian when they are most vulnerable. If passed, Missouri would have the shortest unemployment benefit period in the entire country—just eight weeks. To put this in perspective, most states offer 26 weeks of benefits, and Missouri already cut its benefit period in half back in 2009. When someone loses their job, they are often scrambling to find a new position with comparable pay, retrain for a different career, or simply make ends meet. Eight weeks is not enough time to learn new skills, attend interviews, or secure stable employment. Unemployment benefits are not a luxury; they are a lifeline for families trying to pay rent, buy groceries, or afford prescriptions. Cutting this critical safety net will only push more Missourians into financial ruin. This legislation also ignores the root causes of why businesses struggle to retain employees. If employers are facing high turnover, they should address their pay scales, benefits, and workplace conditions rather than relying on the state to punish unemployed workers. Unemployment benefits are not a handout—they are a temporary support system for hardworking individuals who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. For example, consider a single parent who loses their job in manufacturing and needs time to retrain for a new career in healthcare. Eight weeks is nowhere near enough time to complete certifications, apply for jobs, and secure a stable income. By slashing benefits, this bill would force countless Missourians into impossible situations, choosing between paying rent or putting food on the table. I also strongly urge you to oppose HB315 (Cook), which imposes harsh restrictions on public assistance programs. Food is a basic human right, and threatening people with starvation if they fail to meet arbitrary work requirements is both cruel and counterproductive. Missouri’s unemployment rate is currently just 3.7%, meaning the vast majority of people who can work are already working. For those living in poverty, cash assistance is often a critical resource that provides flexibility and dignity. For instance, a TANF card might cover groceries, but cash can help pay for a bus pass to get to work, school supplies for children, coins for the laundromat, or emergency car repairs. By limiting access to cash assistance, this bill would trap families in cycles of poverty rather than helping them achieve self-sufficiency. Public assistance programs exist to provide a hand up, not to punish people for being poor. Let’s not reduce Missourians to mere statistics or, worse, treat them as expendable. These bills are not solutions—they are attacks on the most vulnerable among us, and they must be stopped.