To provide for additional benefits under the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002.

January 7, 2003

Mr. WU introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

To provide for additional benefits under the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PROGRAM EXTENSION.

Paragraph (2) of section 208 of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note) is amended by striking `January' and inserting `April'.

SEC. 2. ALTERNATIVE TRIGGER FOR SECOND-TIER BENEFITS.

(a) IN GENERAL- Subsection (c) of section 203 of the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2002 is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(3) ALTERNATIVE TRIGGER-

`(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of paragraph (1), if the average rate of total unemployment in a State during fiscal year 2002 (seasonally adjusted) exceeds the average rate of total unemployment in all States during such fiscal year (seasonally adjusted), such State shall be considered to be in an extended benefit period beginning on December 29, 2002 (or such earlier date as the Secretary may specify). Any such extended benefit period shall be treated as continuing for so long as the agreement (entered into by such State under this title) remains in effect.

`(B) DETERMINATIONS- For purposes of this paragraph, determinations of average rates of total unemployment (and of any seasonal adjustment) shall be made by the Secretary.

`(C) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION- Nothing in this paragraph shall terminate or otherwise affect any extended benefit period which might otherwise be determined to exist under paragraph (2).'.

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT- Paragraph (1) of section 203(c) of such Act is amended by striking `(2))' and inserting `(2) or (3))'.

END