Rep. Horn Offers Hand to Governor to Speed Unemployment Process

Rep. Horn Offers Hand to Governor to Speed Unemployment Process

                            OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – On Tuesday, Congresswoman Kendra Horn (OK-5) sent a letter to Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt to address mounting concerns regarding the issuance of unemployment benefits in Oklahoma. In the CARES Act, Congress passed expanded unemployment assistance, including an additional 13 weeks of assistance to recipients, expanded eligibility for self-employed workers, independent contractors, and gig workers, and an additional $600 weekly Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefit. Many eligible Oklahomans report they have been denied benefits and cannot get assistance from state agencies.

“I’ve heard from countless Oklahomans who are out of work and at the end of their rope,” said Congresswoman Horn. “I fought to make sure that unemployed workers would get the help they need in the CARES Act. We have to make sure those benefits get to the people who need them right away. I have heard from hairdressers, from oilfield workers, and people across the state who have been denied benefits, contrary to the stimulus law we passed. I hope Governor Stitt and I can work together to ensure that all Oklahomans get the help they need to make it through this pandemic. I stand ready to assist with federal support needed to fully implement the unemployment relief programs created under the stimulus bills we passed to help our communities during this crisis. We must act now to deliver help to Oklahomans in need.”

 On March 13, 2020, Congress passed the Family First Coronavirus Response Act. This bill provided $1 billion in federal funding to help states administer unemployment insurance programs, which have seen exponential growth in unemployment claims. Oklahoma qualifies for $10,963,616 in grant funding to hire new staff and increase access and transparency to the state’s unemployment insurance program. The bill also provides no-interest federal loans to cover the costs of state unemployment benefits. Over 200,000 Oklahomans have filed for unemployment since mid-March.