Guam Included In All Federal Unemployment Insurance Programs
Statement
CARES Act HR 748
Governors statements incorrect, Guam included in all federal unemployment insurance programs
In the Governors Address today at the 1:01:38 mark she stated that Guam was not included in definitions covering federal pandemic unemployment.
This is incorrect.
The Definitions of "State" in the CARES Act specifically reads:
STATE.--The term ""State'' includes the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia,
the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
The Act can be viewed here, with specific reference in Sections 2102 and 2104:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/748/text?loclr=bloglaw#toc-HB497FA84BE3B40479927BB8EC35E9886
This definition applies to references in the CARES Act covering federal pandemic unemployment insurance.
"We made sure to include Guam in Section 2102 that defined "States" throughout the Act and added language in 2102 that covered workers who typically were not covered by their State Plans, such as independent contractors; Guam has no State Plan, so everyone is covered in that language," opened Congressman San Nicolas. "Additionally, using the same definition of "State" as established in 2102, Section 2104 adds Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation of an additional $600 on top of what was afforded in 2102," Congressman San Nicolas adds. "So basically, if anyone in the States receiving Section 2102 unemployment is also receiving Section 2104 unemployment, then both should also apply to Guam as we are included in all program definitions of a "State," Congressman San Nicolas continues.
"I urge the local government to ensure that they do not shortchange the people of Guam by settling for anything less than what any other American is getting who is also covered under the same definitions as Guam," said Congressman San Nicolas. "My office made sure Guam is included in everything statutorily, and that is what stands," Congressman San Nicolas concludes.
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