Reducing Long-Term Unemployment Act

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 23, 2016

Reducing Long-Term Unemployment Act

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend until December 31, 2017, the suspension of employment and railroad retirement taxes for employers who hire unemployed individuals. The aggregate reduction in taxes from such suspension is limited to $5,000 per employee.

The bill modifies the unemployment requirement to require a signed affidavit from the unemployed individual that, during the entire 27-week period ending on the hiring date, such individual: (1) was receiving federal or state unemployment compensation, or (2) was unemployed and would have received unemployment compensation except for having exhausted the right to receive such compensation during such period.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · D–DC

Committees

Ways and Means Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 23, 2016
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Feb 23, 2016
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E192)
Feb 23, 2016
Introduced in House
Feb 23, 2016
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Feb 23, 2016 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 4470 · Reducing Long-Term Unemployment Act

Source last updated: Aug 12, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.4593 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.4593, 114th Congress: Reducing Long-Term Unemployment Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4593

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-02-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr4593/BILLS-114hr4593ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:13Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.4593 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.4593 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.4593, 114th Congress: Reducing Long-Term Unemployment Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4593

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-02-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr4593/BILLS-114hr4593ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:13Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4593 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.4593 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4593, 114th Congress: Reducing Long-Term Unemployment Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4593

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-02-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr4593/BILLS-114hr4593ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:13Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4593 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.4593 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.4593, 114th Congress: Reducing Long-Term Unemployment Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4593

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2016-02-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/114/bills/hr4593/BILLS-114hr4593ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-12T14:13:13Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.4593 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.