“The Biden administration is looking for $3.4 billion to "modernize, protect and strengthen" the unemployment insurance system in its budget request for fiscal year 2023 as part of the 18% increase for the Labor Department overall from the 2021 enacted level. Overall the agency is seeking $14.6 billion in discretionary funding for fiscal year 2023...” “If enacted, the $3.4 billion request for unemployment efforts would be an increase of $769 million over 2021 levels, and slightly above the Biden administration's request for fiscal year 2022. Of the money being requested, some would go to efforts to tamp down fraud in the program, including $150 million for program integrity efforts including ‘investing in identity verification services for states’ and IT modernization and $100 million for identity verification efforts, which could include subscription costs as well as the ‘development of a central identity verification tool/service,’ according to the department...” Read the full article here. Source: Labor Dept. seeks $3.4 billion for UI programs, including IT modernization – By Natalie Alms, March 29, 2022. FCW.