WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement after South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster announced he would terminate South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce participation in federal COVID-19 unemployment programs.

“I completely support Governor McMaster’s decision to stop taking federal unemployment assistance at the end of next month instead of waiting for it to expire in September. The federal unemployment benefit has had the effect of discouraging return to work, and it is now time for that program to come to an end.

“The federal unemployment benefit has made it almost impossible for service industry businesses to maintain their workforce. In a majority of cases, the unemployment benefits exceed wages earned from working.

“Governor McMaster’s decision will jumpstart the service industry, which has suffered greatly during the pandemic. I know many have lost work due to no fault of their own, but it is now time to let the economy open fully depending on employer wages, not government benefits.”

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