Political Quotes

“My colleagues on the other side have noted their objection to this bill's rescission of unobligated COVID funds sitting unused at the Department of Labor. They claim these funds are important in combating UI fraud, but the reality couldn't be further from the truth. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a February letter from the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Department of Labor & Industrial Relations, Jefferson City, MO, February 6, 2023. Hon. Jason Smith, Chair, House Ways and Means Committee, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Smith: Thank you for the opportunity to share the Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations, Division of Employment Security's experience in administering and combatting fraud in the unemployment insurance (UI) and federal CARES Act programs throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Missouri's Governor declared a state of emergency on March 13, 2020, and Missouri entered into an agreement with the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) to administer the federal CARES Act program on March 28, 2020. In a span of only three weeks, Missouri realized an increase of over 3000% in unemployment insurance claims.…”