R 403

2019 -- S 1010 Enacted 06/26/2019

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

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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