MEEK RENEWS CALL FOR FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO CHANGE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM TO SECURE MORE FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE

WASHINGTON, DC – In response to last week's Florida News Service article reporting that state GOP lawmakers are warming to the idea of changing Florida's unemployment system to receive more federal assistance, U.S. Congressman Kendrick B. Meek today renewed his call for the Florida legislature to act decisively to put Florida in compliance with unemployment benefits provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

"Florida is not in a position to leave hard to come by Recovery Act dollars in Washington when they are needed in the state's 67 counties," said Congressman Meek. "The economic realities do not permit the Legislature to select a policy of inaction, when Floridians require action to jumpstart the stalling economy."

In April, Congressman Meek urged the Florida Legislature to enact legislation  necessary to put Florida in compliance with the Unemployment Insurance modernization provision in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

In May, Congressman Meek called on the Legislature to return for a Special Session to take advantage of $444 million in federal stimulus dollars meant to fund Unemployment Insurance (UI) to help unemployed Floridians and their families.

To date, the Legislature has failed to act and comply with federal guidelines, thus forgoing over $444 million in recovery dollars for unemployment insurance. This inaction is particularly troubling given that states like Georgia were able to pass legislation to enact the necessary reforms, with Governor Sonny Perdue and the Republican-controlled Legislature working across party lines to receive its share of UI stimulus dollars by legislatively working together to be compliant with the guidelines set forth in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek represents the 17th Congressional District of Florida which includes parts of Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. He serves as the lone Florida Democrat sitting on the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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