SJR 18, as introduced, Beall. Emergency Unemployment Compensation: extension.
This measure would proclaim the Legislature’s support for the extension of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program and would memorialize the United States Congress to promptly renew the extension of unemployment benefits.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, In 2008, the United States suffered its worst
2economic crisis since the Great Depression; and
3WHEREAS, The economic downturn resulted in a 10 percent
4unemployment rate nationwide by 2009, and a rate as high as 12.4
5percent in California; and
6WHEREAS, When unemployment benefits were first authorized,
7the national unemployment rate was only 5.6 percent; and
8WHEREAS, Now the current unemployment rate is at 7 percent
9and 36 states, including California, have higher rates of
10unemployment,
P2 1WHEREAS, California’s unemployed workers currently face
2one of the toughest job markets in the country, with statewide
3unemployment at 8.5 percent and three unemployed workers for
4every available job; and
5WHEREAS, In 2009, Congress passed the Emergency
6Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program which extended
7benefits to those out of work for up to 99 weeks to give relief to
8many that have endured an extended period of unemployment.
9Unemployed workers in California receive 37 weeks of EUC, and
1026 weeks of state benefits, averaging just two hundred ninety-two
11dollars ($292) a week.
12WHEREAS, On December 28, 2013, the EUC program expired
13without an extension from Congress. On that day, 214,000
14unemployed workers ran out of EUC in California and 12,500
15more will be doing so daily; and
16WHEREAS, As of December 30, 2013, close to 1,260,400
17unemployed workers in California have run out of all available
18unemployment benefits; and
19WHEREAS, The EUC program brought $4.5 billion in benefits
20to the California economy in 2013 alone; and
21WHEREAS, It is crucial for the United States government to
22take action in renewing the EUC program and extending the
23unemployment benefits that millions of people direly need; now,
24therefore, be it
25Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of the State of
26California, jointly, That the Legislature supports the extension of
27the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program and
28respectfully memorializes the United States Congress to promptly
29renew the extension of unemployment benefits that will
30tremendously aid millions of people; and be it further
31Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
32this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
33States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Majority
34and Minority Leaders of the Senate, each Senator and
35Representative from California in the Congress of the United
36States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.
O
99