Unemployment Benefits for Georgians (Cong. Rec., June 16, 2021)
Summary
Congressional Record, House, page H2825, June 16, 2021. Bourdeaux, under Unemployment Benefits for Georgians, says the country crossed the milestone of more than 600,000 American lives lost in the pandemic, and that the Georgia Democratic congressional delegation sent a letter in March asking for an audit of the Georgia Department of Labor. Bourdeaux says the response found that Georgia could not supply basic data, including on the timeliness of benefit distribution. The page also prints remarks urging public financing in the For the People Act and remarks remembering Marine Corporal Jeffrey Standfest on the anniversary of his death.
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“Unemployment Benefits for Georgians (Cong. Rec., June 16, 2021).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-06-16-crec-2021-06-16-pt1-pgh2825-2-fbd3118cc2/
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June 16, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H2825
they don’t have deep pockets or cor- never forget his bravery and ultimate and are on the verge of eviction be-
porate connections. sacrifice. cause their government can’t get it to-
But the Brennan Center for Justice It is the courage of Corporal gether.
found that public financing doesn’t just Standfest and all of those who have Along with the rest of the Georgia
increase the socioeconomic diversity of worn the uniform that protects the Democratic congressional delegation, I
candidates for public office, it also freedoms we hold so dear. sent a letter in March asking the U.S.
boosts racial and gender diversity. Today, on the anniversary of his Department of Labor’s Office of the In-
That is why I introduced an amend- tragic death, I hope all of those who spector General to conduct an audit of
ment to H.R. 1 to include an assess- knew and loved him find comfort the Georgia Department of Labor, and
ment of the impact on candidate diver- knowing that Corporal Jeffrey Robert they recently replied.
sity in the required report to Congress Standfest will forever be remembered What they found was that they
on the new public financing program, in history as a patriotic American couldn’t figure out what was going on
and I am grateful that my colleagues hero. I am hopeful my colleagues in because Georgia couldn’t even supply
voted to pass my amendment. Congress will join me in honoring this basic data on a number of key issues,
This is personal for me because I courageous American. including the timeliness of benefit dis-
firmly believe that we can have a Con- f
tribution and the number of Georgians
gress that looks like America if we just who requested the federally funded un-
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR employment insurance supplement.
give people a fair shot.
I became the first woman and the GEORGIANS There are two other States which
first person of color to represent my The SPEAKER pro tempore. The were unable to provide data on the
district because I refused to be counted Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from timeliness of claims through all three
out as unelectable in my own commu- Georgia (Ms. BOURDEAUX) for 5 min- Federal enhanced unemployment in-
nity. I know that women and people of utes. surance programs. There were four
color are electable everywhere. No seat Ms. BOURDEAUX. Madam Speaker, I other States which apparently did not
in Congress should be deemed out of rise today to address a serious problem report the required claims volume
reach for certain types of candidates. facing our country, one that many of data. Georgia is the only State that
When everybody has a fair shot, all us have been dealing with firsthand was unable to provide data on either.
since the beginning of the COVID–19 In other words, the Georgia Depart-
candidates are electable, and small
crisis. As I do so, I also want to ac- ment of Labor stands out as uniquely
donor public financing gives people
knowledge that while we are headed in unable, by either choice or com-
that fair shot. Small donor public fi-
the right direction, earlier this week petence, to report on its administra-
nancing and the other crucial reforms
we crossed the solemn milestone of tion of enhanced unemployment bene-
in H.R. 1 would make our representa-
more than 600,000 American lives lost fits.
tive democracy both more representa- While factors such as initial under-
tive and more democratic. In other in the pandemic.
staffing and limited technology may
words, it would make America more Today, I speak for millions of Ameri-
have prevented the Georgia Depart-
American, aligning our system of gov- cans from across the country who lost
ment of Labor from processing claims,
ernment with our highest national val- their jobs as a result of COVID–19.
after over a year and after over 67 mil-
ues. They then did exactly what they had
lion in Federal dollars to help the
So I urge my colleagues in the Sen- been told to do and filed for unemploy-
State, extensive questions remain
ate to pass the For the People Act with ment insurance, and then they waited.
about how the agency plans to identify
the small donor public financing pro- But in Georgia, for many, that unem-
solutions to address the serious back-
gram intact and help America live up ployment check never came.
Many of us have received a flood of log that currently exists.
to our values. Georgians are lawfully entitled to
f calls and emails regarding this issue.
the benefits they applied for. They are
Currently, my office is processing near-
REMEMBERING MARINE CORPORAL also entitled to transparency and ac-
ly 150 cases dealing with unemploy-
JEFFREY STANDFEST countability from their government. It
ment insurance, our second highest of
is time for answers and for solutions.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The any issue area, and the stories are
Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from truly frustrating. f
Michigan (Mrs. MCCLAIN) for 5 minutes. There is a substitute teacher in my CLARENCE CUMMINGS, JR. IS
Mrs. MCCLAIN. Madam Speaker, I district who couldn’t find work due to OLYMPIC BOUND
rise today to honor the memory of Ma- the COVID pandemic. When Georgia The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
rine Corporal Jeffrey Robert Standfest, schools reopened to in-person instruc- Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
a St. Clair County native who was tion, she was unable to go back, as she South Carolina (Ms. MACE) for 5 min-
killed while serving his country 11 lives with a high-risk family member. utes.
years ago today. In April of 2020, she applied for unem- Ms. MACE. Madam Speaker, I rise
Corporal Standfest was only 23 years ployment benefits and received them today with great honor and pride to an-
old when an IED struck and killed him for just a short amount of time before nounce that Clarence Cummings, Jr., a
and his K–9 partner, Sergeant Rupert, they mysteriously stopped, even 21-year-old constituent of mine from
in Afghanistan. though she is still eligible. She con- Beaufort, South Carolina, will be an
Like all of our fallen heroes, Jeff was tacted my office in February, and we important part of the 2021 Olympic
not just a soldier in war. He was a son, have sent five inquiries on her behalf, weightlifting team and their effort to
a brother, a nephew, a grandson, and a and not a word of response from the bring home the first gold in over 60
friend. A star runner at St. Clair High Georgia Department of Labor. years for the red, white, and blue.
School, Jeff was an all-American kid We have another person who was ap- Mr. Cummings’ record is extensive,
who loved his country and followed in proved for benefits in July and began to say the least. He holds 23 American
the footsteps of his grandfather by filing claims weekly but has never re- records in weightlifting. In his weight
serving in the Marine Corps. This is ceived a single cent. That person con- class, he holds the Junior World Record
who he was, and this is how he will be tacted our office in March. We sent in the snatch, clean and jerk, and
remembered. four inquiries. Not a word in response total.
I recently introduced bipartisan leg- from the Georgia Department of Labor. He is world respected and well re-
islation to rename the St. Clair County Let me be clear: This isn’t just the garded for his feat in the clean and
ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with HOUSE
Post Office after Corporal Standfest. slow gears of government bureaucracy. jerk.
Renaming this post office would serve Every day delayed means a human He was the IWF Junior World Cham-
as a permanent reminder of his selfless being has to decide between putting pion in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. In 2016
service to our country. To his friends, food on the table or keeping a roof over and 2017 he was the IWF Youth World
family, and loved ones, it will dem- their heads. One such person my office Champion. He is also the Pan-Amer-
onstrate that the United States will has talked to had their car repossessed ican Champion for 2019 and 2020. I also
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