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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2020-088 City Commission of the City of Dania Beach, Urging and Requesting the United States of Congress to Continue to Fund the Federal Portion of Unemployment Assistance Programs RESOLUTION NO. 2020-088 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA, URGING AND REQUESTING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO CONTINUE TO FUND THE FEDERAL PORTION OF UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS; FURTHER, PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS,the nation's unemployment insurance program was established in the 1930's to protect unemployed workers until they can either be rehired or find new employment; and WHEREAS, on March 1, 2020, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-51 declaring a public health crisis in the state due to a novel coronavirus commonly known as COVID-19, and that Executive Order has continued in effect, and has been renewed in various degrees in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, as the virus has progressed in Florida; and WHEREAS, COVID-19 has caused major disruptions to the state and local economy, forcing many businesses to temporarily close and many workers to be laid off or furloughed by businesses and local governments; and WHEREAS, is has been reported that more than 32 million Americans are currently receiving some form of unemployment benefits; and WHEREAS, widely reported technical problems with Florida's online system unemployment assistance programs have resulted in millions of eligible Floridians not being able to have unemployment assistance claims processed in a timely manner; and WHEREAS, Florida's Unemployment Trust Fund grew by nearly $17 million from March 1 through April 16, and, according to the U.S. Treasury Department, Florida is the only state in the nation which has a trust fund that gained money during that time period; and WHEREAS, as of June 30 2020, and with some of the 2.8 million unemployment claims still unpaid,the state has accrued over$21 million in interest on the money earmarked by the federal government for Florida's unemployed; and WHEREAS, there have been questions about Florida's unemployment assistance programs regarding the state's alleged failure to process unemployment claims and deliver benefits in a timely fashion and whether the state's unemployment programs are being administered in accordance with guidelines established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act"); and WHEREAS, the CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, expands reemployment assistance benefits in Florida; and WHEREAS, individuals who apply for reemployment assistance whose employment was negatively impacted as a result of COVID-19 will follow the same application,review, and payment process as all applicants for reemployment assistance in Florida; and WHEREAS,the CARES Act includes the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation ("FPUC") which provides an additional $600.00 per week to any individual eligible under Florida law for reemployment assistance or federal unemployment programs; this benefit is available for weeks claimed March 29, 2020—July 25, 2020, in addition to the funds owed under Florida law to eligible individuals; and WHEREAS, the CARES Act also includes the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance ("PUA") which provides up to $275.00 in weekly benefits to those not ordinarily eligible for reemployment assistance, in addition to the FPUC funding; this includes individuals who are self- employed or contract employees and for those eligible, this benefit is available for weeks claimed from February 2, 2020 through December 26,2020; and WHEREAS, the CARES Act also provides another major program entitled the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation ("PEUC") which provides up to $275.00 in weekly benefits and allows up to an additional 13 weeks of benefits added to the end of state reemployment assistance benefits,in addition to the FPUC funding; and WHEREAS, the documented issues with Florida's reemployment assistance benefits programs calls into question the current federal-state partnership under the CARES Act; and WHEREAS, by the end of July the benefits authorized by the CARES Act expired without action from Congress and without it, experts said the economic recession will likely worsen; and WHEREAS, continued high unemployment rates throughout Florida demonstrates the need to continue funding unemployment insurance programs to financially assist the citizens of this State; and WHEREAS, a recent report by the Urban Institute estimates that elements of the federal pandemic response plan—including the benefits authorized by the CARES Act —will keep 10 million people out of poverty this year; and 2 RESOLUTION#2020-088 WHEREAS, it is unconscionable to reduce unemployment insurance protections while unemployment rates remain high and to cause economic hardship for millions of workers who have no control over and no responsibility for economic downturns; and WHEREAS, the City of Dania Beach calls on Congress to continue federal funding of the unemployment insurance protections to help stabilize the economy and prevent drastic circumstances for the middle class workers and families in our communities; and WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Dania Beach has been part of the emergency response and now calls on Congress to build a united national partnership for a safe, healthy, and prosperous life for our citizens; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DANIA BEACH,FLORIDA,THAT: Section 1. That the foregoing "Whereas" clauses are ratified and confirmed as being true and correct, and they are made a specific part of and incorporated into this Resolution by this reference. Section 2. That the City Commission of the City of Dania Beach urges and requests Congress to continue to fund the federal portion of unemployment assistance programs in the State of Florida to assist the citizens of the City of Dania Beach, Broward County, and throughout the State of Florida during the economic emergency caused by COVID-19. Section 3. That the City Commission further directs the City Clerk's Office to transmit a copy of this Resolution to the Broward League of Cities, the Florida League of Cities, the United States Congressional Delegation from Florida, Senator Rick Scott, Senator Marco Rubio, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Congressman Ted Deutch, and any other interested parties. Section 4. That all Resolutions or parts of Resolutions in conflict with this Resolution are repealed to the extent of such conflict. Section 5. That this Resolution shall be in force and take effect immediately upon its passage and adoption. 3 RESOLUTION#2020-088 PASSED AND ADOPTED on August 25 2020. ATTEST: ��p► Bl;q�, o� y r / Lj- THOMAS SCHNEIDER, CMC L RI LEWELLEN CITY CLERK �'4etISH�� MAYOR APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS THOMAS'J. A O CITY ATTORNEY 4 RESOLUTION#2020-088