Bill Text: TX HCR76 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Concurrent Resolution 76 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Urging Congress to provide financial assistance to the states' unemployment compensation programs.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-29 - Referred to Business & Industry [HCR76 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HCR76-Introduced.html

	87R16407 KSM-D

	By: Rodriguez	H.C.R. No. 76



	CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, Over the past year, more than 2 million Texans have
	applied for unemployment compensation benefits as the COVID-19
	pandemic caused unprecedented displacement, layoffs, and
	furloughs; and
	WHEREAS, The Unemployment Compensation program was designed
	to help jobless Americans during economic downturns; administered
	jointly by the state and federal governments, the program is funded
	through reserve and surplus funds, which are financed through
	payroll taxes under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act and the State
	Unemployment Tax Acts; and
	WHEREAS, In 2020, Texas depleted its unemployment insurance
	trust fund to below the minimum level required to maintain
	solvency; in order to avoid raising unemployment insurance taxes on
	businesses, Texas must borrow funds from the federal Unemployment
	Trust Fund; as of March 2, 2021, the State of Texas' outstanding
	loan balance stands at $6.5 billion; and
	WHEREAS, Fortunately, the Families First Coronavirus
	Response Act provided states a temporary waiver of interest
	payments and suspended the accrual of interest on federal advances
	to states; those provisions were extended by the American Rescue
	Plan Act, but these relief measures will expire in September 2021;
	and
	WHEREAS, Without further assistance from the federal
	government, states such as Texas will be forced to replenish their
	unemployment insurance trusts by raising business taxes, which
	would inhibit economic recovery and harm already struggling
	businesses and workers; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas
	hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to
	provide financial assistance to the states' unemployment
	compensation programs; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
	copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
	the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of
	Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all members
	of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that this
	resolution be entered in the Congressional record as a memorial to
	the Congress of the United States of America.