2019 -- S 1010

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LC002887

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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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

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

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

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

could still have a financial impact on federal employees; and

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

and

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

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

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

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

     WHEREAS, The majority of Americans cannot maintain their obligations without

regular paychecks; and

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

necessities during a government shutdown; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

issue; and, be it further

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

States to immediately adopt the Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees Excepted

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

102-94; and be it further

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Congressional Delegation.

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LC002887

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