H.R. 5206 — Empowering Striking Workers Act of 2025

This section requires states' unemployment insurance laws to provide unemployment compensation to individuals unable to work due to a labor dispute—including strikes, lockouts, or indirect effects thereof—as if unemployed, beginning on the earlier of (1) 14 days after a strike began, (2) a lockout began, (3) the employer hired permanent replacement workers, or (4) the strike or lockout ended and the individual became unemployed. The section also exempts such individuals from the requirement that unemployment claimants be able and available for suitable work.