Z-1466.1          _______________________________________________

                            SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8029

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State of Washington              52nd Legislature             1992 Regular Session

By Senators Moore and Anderson; by request of Employment Security Department

Read first time 02/05/92.  Referred to Committee on Commerce & Labor.Memorializing Congress for more money to fund employment security funds.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

     WHEREAS, Rising unemployment places greater burdens on individuals and families in Washington State; and

     WHEREAS, Changes in the structure of the Washington economy mean more workers will face the prospect of long-term unemployment; and

     WHEREAS, Workers will face more frequent career changes which require new skills and education; and

     WHEREAS, Washington's citizens are deserving of the highest quality unemployment, employment, and training services; and

     WHEREAS, The Washington State Employment Security Department is facing a funding crisis; and

     WHEREAS, Federal funding for employment services has fallen in real terms during nine of the last eleven years; and

     WHEREAS, Funds are no longer allocated to cover increases in the costs due to inflation; and

     WHEREAS, Increased costs due to changes in state law are no longer funded; and

     WHEREAS, These shortfalls exist in spite of the fact that funds held at the federal level exceed amounts required by the states to provide quality services; and

     WHEREAS, Washington State employers provide funding for programs for the unemployed through payment of the Federal Unemployment Tax; and

     WHEREAS, Revenue from the Federal Unemployment Tax can only be expended for the administration of Employment Security programs; and

     WHEREAS, Each year one billion dollars more is collected at the federal level than is allocated to the states for program services; and

     WHEREAS, Funds to administer Employment Security activities are held hostage at the federal level in an effort to mask the federal budget deficit;

     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress release tax moneys paid by Washington State employers to support Employment Security programs.

     BE IT RESOLVED, That Employment Security programs be funded at a level that will guarantee for Washington citizens ready access to quality programs to assist them in their return to stable employment and provide partial replacement of lost wages while unemployed; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and to each member of Congress from the State of Washington.