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H.R. 1091House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Flexibility to Promote Reemployment Act

Sponsored by James B. RenacciRep. James B. Renacci (R-OH)
Introduced February 15, 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 12:56 PM UTC

The Flexibility to Promote Reemployment Act changes the Social Security Act’s rules for state‑run demonstration projects that help unemployed workers get back to work. It makes it easier for states to apply, extends the time they can run projects, and adds requirements for evaluating and reporting on the projects’ results. The changes affect state unemployment agencies, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the workers who participate in these projects.

Key Provisions

  • Allows up to 10 states per year to run demonstration projects, clarifying the numerical limit.
  • Lets a state governor or the governor’s designee apply for a waiver and requires a detailed statement of the waiver’s purpose.
  • Extends the deadline for projects to run through December 31, 2021 (instead of 2015).
  • Changes how projects are approved, using a first‑come‑first‑served order and adding clearer termination rules if a state violates terms.
  • Updates the description of allowable project activities, including employer‑provided training and wage‑related payments.
  • Requires the Secretary of Labor to conduct impact evaluations of each project and to report results annually to Congress.
  • Mandates state cooperation with evaluations and public sharing of findings on the Department of Labor website.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions
HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.

Work and Welfare Subcommittee

February 28, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 15, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Ways and Means Committee

February 15, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.

Work and Welfare Subcommittee

February 28, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued February 15, 2017

I

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1091

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 15, 2017

Mr. Renacci (for himself, Mr. Bucshon, and Mr. Kilmer) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

A BILL

To amend certain provisions of the Social Security Act relating to demonstration projects designed to promote the reemployment of unemployed workers.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Flexibility to Promote Reemployment Act.

2.

Removal of barriers to promote reemployment through demonstration projects

(a)

Modification of numerical limitation

Subsection (a) of section 305 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 505) is amended by inserting per year after 10 States.

(b)

Clarification of application requirements

Subsection (b) of such section 305 is amended—

(1)

by inserting or his or her designee after The Governor of any State; and

(2)

by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

(2)

for any waiver requested under subsection (c), a statement describing—

(A)

the specific provision or provisions of law for which such waiver is requested; and

(B)

the specific aspects of the project to which such waiver would apply and the reasons why it is needed;

.

(c)

Extension of eligible time period

Subsection (d) of such section 305 is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (2), by striking may not be approved and inserting may not be conducted; and

(2)

in paragraph (3), by striking December 31, 2015 and inserting December 31, 2021.

(d)

Clarification of demonstration activities

Subsection (e) of such section 305 is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1), by striking for employer-provided training, such as and inserting to employers or claimants for employer-provided training or; and

(2)

in paragraph (2), by striking , not to exceed the weekly benefit amount for each such individual, to pay part of the cost of wages that exceed the unemployed individual's prior benefit level and inserting that include disbursements promoting retention.

(e)

Selection of qualifying applications on a first-Come, first-Served basis

Subsection (f) of such section 305 is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (2) and (3); and

(2)

by inserting before paragraph (2) (as redesignated by this subsection) the following:

(1)

approve completed applications in the order of receipt;

.

(f)

Termination of demonstration projects

Subsection (g) of such section 305 is amended to read as follows:

(g)

The Secretary of Labor may terminate a demonstration project under this section if the Secretary—

(1)

determines that the State has violated the substantive terms or conditions of the project;

(2)

notifies the State in writing with sufficient detail describing the violation; and

(3)

determines that the State has not taken action to correct the violation within 90 days after the notification.

.

(g)

Effective date; transition rule

(1)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

(2)

Transition rule

(A)

In general

Nothing in this Act shall be considered to terminate or otherwise affect any demonstration project approved under section 305 of the Social Security Act before the date of the enactment of this Act.

(B)

Original conditions continue to apply

A demonstration project described in subparagraph (A) shall be conducted in the same manner as if subsections (a) through (f) had not been enacted.

3.

Evaluation of demonstration projects

(a)

In general

Section 305 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 505) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(i)

The Secretary of Labor shall conduct an impact evaluation of each demonstration project conducted under this section, using existing data sources to the extent possible and methodology appropriate to determine the effects of the demonstration project, including on individual skill levels, earnings, and employment retention.

.

(b)

Cooperation by State

Section 305(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 505(b)) (as amended by section 2(b) of this Act) is further amended by striking paragraphs (5) and (6) and inserting the following:

(5)

a description of the manner in which the State will determine the extent to which the goals and outcomes described in paragraph (3) were achieved;

(6)

assurances that the State will cooperate, in a timely manner, with the Secretary of Labor with respect to the impact evaluation conducted under subsection (i); and

.

(c)

Reporting

Not later than 90 days after the end of fiscal year 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter, until the completion of the last evaluation under section 305(i) of the Social Security Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate, a report that includes a description of—

(1)

the status of each demonstration project being carried out under this section;

(2)

the results of the evaluation completed during the previous fiscal year; and

(3)

the Secretary’s plan for—

(A)

disseminating the findings of the report to appropriate State agencies; and

(B)

incorporating the components of successful demonstration projects that reduced benefit duration and increased employment into Federal unemployment law.

(d)

Public dissemination

In addition to the reporting requirements under subparagraph (c), evaluation results shall be shared broadly to inform policy makers, service providers, other partners, and the public in order to promote wide use of successful strategies, including by posting evaluation results on the Internet website of the Department of Labor.