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Mayor Bowser to Announce Emergency Legislation, Giving DC Government the Ability to Provide More Federal Employees with Much-Needed Unemployment Insurance Benefits

Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Mayor Bowser to Also Demand End to Shutdown, Announce Ways DC Government is Stepping Up to Assist Impacted Residents and Families

(Washington, DC) – Today, Tuesday, January 22, at 2 pm, Mayor Muriel Bowser will announce ways the DC government is stepping up during the partial government shutdown to assist impacted residents and families. In addition to this announcement, Mayor Bowser will also highlight the tireless work being done across the District by businesses, organizations, and non-profits such as Capital Area Food Bank, which continue to assist residents negatively affected by the shutdown. The Mayor will be joined by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton in demanding an end to a shutdown affecting thousands of DC residents and many more across the country.

Last week, Mayor Bowser sent a letter to United States Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta urging the U.S. Department of Labor to work with the DC Government to make more federal workers eligible for unemployment insurance benefits. Currently, federal workers who are deemed excepted or essential must remain on the job on a full-time basis without pay and without the ability to claim unemployment insurance benefits. The Department of Labor denied the Mayor’s request and reaffirmed their position that these excepted and essential employees will remain ineligible for unemployment insurance benefits. In light of this decision, Mayor Bowser will introduce emergency legislation to the Council of the District of Columbia so that essential federal employees who remain without pay are able to file for unemployment insurance benefits and receive much-needed financial support.

Prior to the press conference, volunteers including Bowser Administration staff, will be working in shifts at Capital Area Food Bank’s facility, sorting food for residents, including furloughed federal workers, in need. Members of the press are encouraged to arrive early.

 
WHEN:
Tuesday, January 22, at 2 pm
For b-roll opportunities of volunteer work at facility, members of the press are encouraged to arrive early. 
 
WHO:
Mayor Muriel Bowser
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
Radha Muthiah, President and CEO, Capital Area Food Bank
 
WHERE:
Capital Area Food Bank
4900 Puerto Rico Avenue, NE
*Closest Metro: Fort Totten Metro Station*

Parking & Entrance Map
 
 
Press interested in attending the event is asked to RSVP to [email protected]. To view the event online, visit mayor.dc.gov/live or tune in on Channel 16.