It’s no secret we’re facing some tough challenges in Michigan. Michigan’s unemployment rate of 13.2% remains among the worst in the nation, representing 681,000 Michigan workers who have seen their jobs disappear, their lives upended, and the American dream slipping away.

In response, I joined my colleagues in the House more than a year ago in voting for legislation that would extend unemployment benefits to Michigan workers enrolled in training and education programs, helping to make sure that these workers don’t have to choose between taking care of their families today and getting the skills they’ll need to build a better future.

Importantly in this era of tight budgets, no state money would be used to pay for this extension. Instead, we would be able to use $138 million in federal money to provide our unemployed workers with temporary assistance while they’re getting the new skills they need to reenter the workforce and build a new career.

Unfortunately, more than a year later, the Michigan Senate still hasn’t moved on this important legislation. That’s right: with one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation and 641,000 Michigan residents without work, our State Senate has failed to act while Michigan workers are struggling. Worse, because this is federal funding used to pay for these benefits in states that have taken action, we’re actually sending our tax dollars to train workers in other states.

It’s hard to justify the Senate’s refusal to take advantage of this opportunity on any level, but one thing stands out. We hear a lot of talk about the need to diversify Michigan’s economy. For too long, we as a state have put all our eggs in one basket, and the fact that two of the Big Three went through the bankruptcy process last year should serve as a wake-up call, a blaring reminder that we can’t afford to continue down the same path. Worker retraining represents a golden opportunity to diversify Michigan’s outstanding workforce and give them the skills they need to lead the world in emerging economic sectors like renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and advanced battery technologies. The fact we can use $138 million in federal money to help our working families make this transition is even better.

I’ll continue to stand up for the hard-working families that make Michigan great. It’s time for the Michigan Senate to do the same.