Z-0709.1                   _______________________________________________

                                            SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 8015

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State of Washington                              53rd Legislature                             1993 Regular Session

By Senators Prentice, Wojahn and Franklin; by request of Employment Security Department

Read first time 02/10/93.  Referred to Committee on Labor & Commerce.

Memorializing Congress for more money to fund employment security funds.

          TO THE HONORABLE BILL CLINTON, 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 Bill Clinton, 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.

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