Local assemblyman joins bipartisan group of lawmakers asking congress to act on COVID relief
Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo)
–On Friday, Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) announced that he had joined a bipartisan group of state lawmakers on a letter asking congressional leaders to act now on a broad COVID-19 relief package.
“It’s the federal government – not the State of California – that has the resources to help our local small businesses, workers and cities get through this crisis,” said Cunningham. “Congress must come together over the next week to hammer out a deal that extends federal unemployment benefits, expands the PPP small business loan program, and provides critical relief to smaller municipal governments like those in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. Folks need the financial support, and we have to avert economic and social collapse while we wait for vaccine distribution.”
On Dec. 26, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which was used by workers like independent contractors who traditionally do not qualify for unemployment insurance, will expire. Also expiring on Dec. 26 is the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program, which provides those on unemployment a 13-week extension of benefits. PEUC benefits will expire for all those using the extension, regardless of how many weeks they’ve used. Cunningham’s office estimates 750,000 Californians could be impacted by these program expirations.
The letter, which can be downloaded here, is signed by 13 Democrat, Republican, and Independent state legislators.
Comments
