Blumenthal, Lautenberg Introduce Bill To Provide Unemployment Aid For Families And Businesses Affected By Superstorm Sandy

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) introduced legislation to extend disaster unemployment benefits to workers who lost their jobs due to Superstorm Sandy, and to help relieve the burden on businesses for disaster-related unemployment claims. The senators introduced the "Superstorm Sandy Unemployment Relief Act" to provide relief to families and businesses affected by Superstorm Sandy, similar to the relief Congress provided to those who lost their jobs because of Hurricane Katrina.

"More than a month after Superstorm Sandy wreaked havoc on Connecticut, individuals throughout the state still feel the effects of the storm's devastation. As businesses continue to rebuild, too many in Connecticut are left without work," Blumenthal said. "This legislation will provide much needed relief to the unemployed in the wake of the storm. I thank Senator Lautenberg for his leadership on this issue, and I will fight to see this legislation passed as soon as possible."

"Superstorm Sandy continues to exact a heavy toll on families and businesses in New Jersey and neighboring states. We're seeing businesses forced to shutter or scale back operations, and many workers have lost their jobs," Lautenberg said. "While the state fights back from this devastating storm, this legislation would help workers and business owners get back on their feet."

The "Superstorm Sandy Unemployment Relief Act" would:
* provide an additional 13 weeks of Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits to eligible individuals; and
* provide federal funds to states to cover the cost of paying unemployment benefits to individuals who lost their jobs because of the disaster.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance benefits, which are 100 percent federally-funded, are available to individuals who have become unemployed as a direct result of a major disaster and who do not qualify for state unemployment insurance benefits. For example, disaster unemployment benefits may be available to self-employed people who lost their business as a result of the disaster, and workers who did not accumulate a sufficient work and wage history before the disaster struck to qualify for state unemployment insurance. Federal law currently provides for up to 26 weeks of DUA benefits, and this bill would extend the benefits for up to 39 weeks for victims of Superstorm Sandy.

In addition, the Superstorm Sandy Relief Act would address the heavy strain being placed on state unemployment trust funds in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. While disaster unemployment benefits are covered by the federal government, regular unemployment compensation is funded by businesses through payroll taxes. Businesses in disaster-affected states may face increased payroll taxes to cover the additional workers receiving unemployment benefits as a result of Superstorm Sandy. This bill would help to prevent that additional burden on businesses by transferring federal funds to unemployment trust funds in disaster-affected states.

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