2019 -- S 1010

========

LC002887

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

____________

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ADOPT THE

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES EXCEPTED FROM

FURLOUGH PROGRAM

     

     Introduced By: Senator Valarie J. Lawson

     Date Introduced: June 25, 2019

     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar

1

     WHEREAS, The last Federal Government Shutdown was thirty-five days long and

2

occurred from December 22, 2018, until January 25, 2019; and

3

     WHEREAS, Government shutdowns usually last for a short duration of time, but they

4

could still have a financial impact on federal employees; and

5

     WHEREAS, During a government shutdown, many federal employees do not get paid;

6

and

7

     WHEREAS, When federal employees miss a paycheck, it can be very hard on them to

8

pay their rents or mortgages, car insurance, or even buy food; and

9

     WHEREAS, Homeowners who have mortgages and federal employees who owe any

10

student loans are still expected to pay even if they are not getting paid; and

11

     WHEREAS, The majority of Americans cannot maintain their obligations without

12

regular paychecks; and

13

     WHEREAS, Some federal employees have to take out loans to be able to afford

14

necessities during a government shutdown; and

15

     WHEREAS, Federal employees who are considered full-time excepted workers are those

16

still performing full-time work but not being compensated during a government shutdown; and

17

     WHEREAS, Under Federal law, excepted employees are not considered unemployed

18

and, therefore, are not eligible for unemployment compensation; now, therefore be it

19

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations is

 

1

hereby aware that the Congress of the United States is now considering options to address this

2

issue; and, be it further

3

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully urges the Congress of the United

4

States to immediately adopt the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees Excepted

5

from Furlough Program as was previously enacted on January 6, 1996, under Title III of P.L.

6

102-94; and be it further

7

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully urges that these federal employees be

8

eligible for unemployment compensation with respect to any lapse in appropriations, and that

9

there should be no waiting period for eligibility to accrue; and be it further

10

     RESOLVED, That this Senate respectfully urges that when these federal employees

11

receive their back pay, they shall promptly reimburse any unemployment benefits they have

12

received as a result of the federal government shutdown; and be it further

13

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

14

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of

15

the United States, the Honorable Gina M. Raimondo, Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the

16

Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Honorable

17

Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader, United States Senate, and the Rhode Island

18

Congressional Delegation.

========

LC002887

========

 

LC002887 - Page 2 of 2